185.64 HERODIAN’s HISTORY, IN Eight Books. een nen tne ersHERODIANS HISTORY OF His Own Times, : OR OF THE ‘Roman Empire after Marcus, Tranflated into ENGLISH. With large NO TES, explaining the moft remark- able Cuftoms, Ceremonies, Offices, ec. among the Romans, To which is prefix'd, -An Intropuction, giving a fhort Account of the Roman State, from its firit Origin, to the Time where Heradian’s Hiftory commences ; AND An Appenpyx added, containing the moft memorable Tranfactions under the fubfequent Emperors to the Reign of ConsTANTINE THE GREAT. With a CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE, And a Copious INDEX. The Whole defign’d as a Compendium both of the History and Antiquitizs of Roms. FE en . By | HART. = —_—_—_.-—- AranraimagG- wis worrois Carnois ric oAyfeas* 4 On | ta Bromo uarrov ceérou). Thucydides. ©* LONDON, Printed for the Au THOR, And fold by T. WaLtER in Fletfrect, T. Payne in Round Court in the Strand, and R. Dopswiey in Pall-Maill. mopcc xuix. | { a 1 ae 4PREFACE. HE Sum of what is requifite to be known of ancient Times, and dif- ferent Nations, may be comprehended un- der two Heads; viz. To be informed of ‘their moft remarkable Tranfactions ; and to be acquainted with their Manners, Laws, Inftitutions, &e. The former of which is the Subje&t of Hifories; the latter of Books of Antiquities. Of thefe two Branches of Learning (as far as they relate to the Ro- man Empire) I have endeavoured to join | the moft material Particulars in one Work. In order to this, and that the Reader might be entertain’d with fomething befides meré Epitome and Annotation (which, if pro- - traéted to any Length, will naturally grow dry and’ infipid to moft Taftes) the miain | Body of the Work is an exact T ranflation of " Heropray’ s History of bis own Times, a3 fromvi PREFACE, from the Reign of Marcus Antoninus to that of Gordian, exclufive. J hall not confume my own, nor the Reader’s Time, in unneceflary Encomiums on my Aathor; but fhall only obferve, that as Herodian was a Greek, and wrote principally for the Information of fuch of his Country-men, as were unacquainted with the Affairs of the Romans ; he touches on a great many Cuftoms of that once fiourifhing People; and is therefore no unfit Author whereon to found a Work of the like Tendency, for the Service of the Englifo Reader, Accordingly, Occafion has been taken, wherever the Paflage would admit, to give fome Account of the Manners, Laws, and Cuftoms of the Ro- mans, both Religious and Civil, in Norzs at the Bottom of the Page where each Particular occurred. Their Religion I have been principally careful to explain ; becaufe it has been ge- perally mifreprefented by modern Writers; who, through a miftaken Zeal, have fome- times defcribed it in fo difadvantageous a Light,PREFACE, Vil Light, that it feems incredible it fhould have ever been entertained by rational Creatures; not to mention how much it reflects on the Goodnefs of the Supreme Being, to fuppofe him capable of leaving fo great a Number of his Creatures with no better Guide to direct them in an Af- fair of fuch infinite Importance, To expofe this unworthy Prejudice, {e- veral Parts of the following Work thew the Parity (I might, in fome Articles, fay the Identity) of the religious Notions of the Heathen with thofe of the Fews of Old, and the Chriffians of all Denomina- tions. Nor ought this to be look’d upon as a Difparagement of the two latter, but rather as an Exaltation of the former. For that Man muft certainly be of a very mean and narrow Spirit, who would mif- - like any Truth for no other Reafon thari it’s being extenfive, AndI much fear, that ' if Chriftianity itfelf had no better Proof fe of its Divinity, than what is drawn from Tradition and ‘Teftimony, it would not have fo great an Advantage, as it really a4 has,vil PREFACE, has, above other Religions, For the ex- ternal Evidence of all Religions is much the fame: They all pretend to Miracles and fupernatural Affiftance ; and the Ac- counts of thefe depend for Credit on the Veracity of their feveral Hiftorians; each of whom, being a Profeffor of that Re- ligion he intended to recommend, may, by Unbelievers, be fufpected of Partiality, But the zuternal Evidence of pure Chri fianity is invincible; I mean, the divine Doétrines of Salvation and Univerfal Cha- rity. And tho’ whatever teaches and in- culcates thefe, propagates the Religion of Fefus, and is therefore the Word of Gad; yet, as they are much more frequent and plain in the Sacred Scriptures than in any | other Writings, the Bible well deferves the Title of the Je Book extant; at leaft till any Man can produce another equally good, But as the Hiftorical Parts of it (which may be fuppofed capable of the fame Er- rors, and liable to the fame Alterations as other Writings) feem rather defigned to convey fome inftructive Allegory, than to entertainPREFACE, ix entertain us with bare Narrative; and as the Prophetic Paffages are written in a Style wonderfully fublime and poetical; and moft of the celeftial Truths contained in it were uttered by Perfons infpired with a divine Enthufiafm; it feems but a pre- carious Foundation whereon to build re- gular elaborate Syftems: The Authors of which methodical Compofitions, being ge~ nerally Men of cold reafoning Minds, are very incompetent Judges of religious E~ ‘motions, But whatever becomes of Hy- pothefis and Speculation; and how inca- pable foever the human Mind may be of comprehending the fecret Counfels of Gop, of underftanding his amazing Works, or accounting for his various Difpenfations ; yet the truly Evangelical Doctrines of Love . and Mercy, contained in the Holy Scri- ptures, are fufficient to warm every gene- rous benevolent Heart with fympathetic Ardour, and to win the candid and hum- ' ble by their foft Attrattion. Their Dic- _ tates are confonant to the Sentiments of ' all wife and good Men; by whom they alwaysx PREFACE. always were, and ever will be embraced s becaufe fuch Men are influenced by the fame godlike Spirit with which they were written. For every one, who, in any Age or Nation whatever, has been endowed with the heavenly Gift of difinterefted Charity, may, in the beft Senfe of the Phrafe, be faid to have been infpired by the Holy Ghof. But as the comparing the feveral Reli- gions of different Nations afforded a large Field for Speculation; 1 have kept myfelf from expatiating beyond the Bounds of a Work of this kind; in which Brevity is the chief, perhaps the only Excellency, it has to boaft. In thefe Difquifitions, Re- courfe has been frequently had to the E- tymology of Names: Which kind of Proof is fo far from deferving to be exploded or flighted, becaufe it has been abufed by the Unfkilful; that, when fairly and naturally deduced, it is of equal Validity with any other Method of Reafoning; and has ever been received and practifed by Men of the foundeft Judgments and deepeft Penetra- tion,PREFACE, xi tion. In the Old Teftament, efpecially, the Hebrew Names of Perfons and Places are fo fignificant of their feveral Chara- &ers and Circumftances, that the moft learned Interpreters are often at a lofs, whether they fhould tranflate the Word according to it’s literal Meaning, or give it the Turn of a proper Name; the latter of which is indeed the eafieft, but the former is generally the moft inftructive, But throughout the following Work, great Care has been taken, in all Refearches of this nature, as on the one hand, to avoid fach Etymologies as feemed too, ftrain’d or remote; fo on the other, to reject that low Common-place kind, which may fo eafily be made by Perfons of very little either Underftanding or Learning; fuch as calling Nations from the Names of their Kings; and, on the contrary, fetch- ing the Names of famous Perfons from thofe of their Countries, without explain- ing the Etymon of either. My Defign in this Wotk being to give _ the Reader a tolerable Knowledge in the Romanxii PREFACE Roman Affairs, even though he had never read any other Account of them; I have prefix’d an InTRopucTion, containing a fummary Relation of all that was necef- fary to be known of the Roman State, from it’s firft Origin, to the Time whence Herodian’s Hittory commences ; {till keep- ing the fame End in view, and endeavour- ing to fay as much as was requifite, in as finall a Compafs as poffible. In this, as well as other Parts of the Work, I have not only confulted moft of the ancient Writers, of any Note; in order to collect a more authentic Account, by comparing them one with another, than could be obtained by following any one Author whatever; but have alfo taken care to fet down the refpective Authors, with the particular Book, Chapter, @c, (efpecially where the Circumftance was either very important, or much controverted) that I might not be cenfured for contradicting any received Story or Opinion, without producing my Authority for fo doing. 4 ThePREFACE, xiii The Reign of Gordian feemed not a yery proper Period at which to end the Roman Hiftory. To fupply this Deficien- cy, Ihave added, by way of AprenDix, a general Account of the moft remarkable ‘Tran factions under each of the fubfequent Emperors, to the Reign of Conflantine the. Great, Since no Hiftory can be well under- ftood, much lefs retained, unlefs the right ‘Time be fix’d to each Incident; Chro- nology mutt be allowed to be one of the moft material Ingredients in Hiftorical Compofitions. But as ic is one of the moft important, fo it is alfo the moft dif- ficult Part of the Work; by reafon of the numerous Corruptions and Variations, both accidental and defign’d, in all the Writings of Antiquity. To remedy this Inconvenience, as much as I was able, I have not followed any one Calculation whatever; but endeavour’d to come as near the Truth as poffible, by comparing the Works of one Author with thofe of another, and every Author with himélf: Andxiv PREFACE, And have thus, with great Labour and Care, collected a CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE from the beft ancient Hiftorians; not without having Recourfe to the Poets them({elves, who, in fome Particulars, have been very helpful. Tho’ in comparing the Religious, and Civil, Cuftoms of the Romans, with thofe of the Greeks and fews, I was obliged to infert Quotations from Authors, in their refpective Languages; yet, that the Eng- lifh Reader might have his Share in thofe Enquiries, [have not only added the Sound of the Hebrew and Greek Words, in Englifh Letters, where Etymology was the thing in difpute; but have taken care to fubjoin the English to every Quotation : So that there is nothing throughout the whole Book, in any dead or foreign Lan- guage, but what is immediately tranflated, for the Ufe of the Haglifh Reader. And now I fhall only defire of my Reader, that, before he pafies Judgment on the following Work entire, or on any par- ticular Paffage contained in it, he would firPREFACE. xv firft take the pains to examine it with Impartiality, and be certain he is capable of entring into the Meaning of the Au- thor; left, by giving his Opinion too foon, he be found in the Number of thofe, who condemn (or perhaps commend) what they do not underftand. For it is with Books, as with Perfons; they who are moft trifling, and capable of giving leaft Inftru€tion or Benefit by their Converfa- tion, are commonly underftood at the firft or fecond Interview; and feldom fail to pleafe for a Time; becaufe the Eye is al- ways moft fenfibiy ftruck with Beauties which are moft fuperficial and glaring : But wherever there is any inftructive Good, or real Worth, it is generally fo couch’d as not to be prefently feen by a flight external View; but the more we . grow acquainted with the Object, the more we are delighted with it’s Excel- lency, and the higher Efteem we have of its intrinfic Merit. Truth loves to unveil herfelf to the patient, humble, and im- partial Mind; but {Corns to expofe her Charmsxvi PREFACE Charms to the vulgar Eyes of traditional Superftition, or the unequal Enquiries of prejudiced Infidelity ; to the narrow Views of Popularity, Pride, or Intereft; the hafty Conclufions of Self-conceit ; the rath Judg- ment of partial Zeal; or the thallow Per- ceptions of Indolence, or Levity, INTRO-INTRODUCTION. FE Tradition, that generally obtain’ with tie Romans concerning the Origin of their State, was, that Zxeas after the Deftrudtion of Tivy, with a few Trejans, who had efcap’d the Flames, and the Swords of the Enemy, fail’d into that Part of Italy, which is fituate on the Eaft-fide of the River Tiber, and was called Latium. Latinus the then King of Latium gave Hneas his Daughter Lavinia; and the Aborigines of the Country, in confequence of this Marriage, amicably joining with the Tr0- _jans, they became powerfull enough to conquer the Rutuli with the Hetrurians theit Allies*, and fecure the Kingdom to Lotinus and his new Son- in-Law; who reign’d both together over the two Nations, united under the common Name of Latins. At the Deceafe of Latinus the Go- vernment was confirm’d to xeas alone, whofe Son Afcanius, after his Father’sDeath, left Lavi- nium the Capital of Latium, and built a City on the Side of a Hill ; which he call’d Loug Alba. Here he and his Pofterity reign’d by Succeffion quite down to Amulins the rth King of the , Latins ». Amulius had forcibly feized on the Kingdom in Violation of the hereditary Right of Numitor 2 Liv. lib, i. & Liv. Diony/. et Eufeb. A his2 INTRODUCTION. his elder Brother; whofe Daughter Ries he made a Veftal Prieftefs, thereby intending to cut off all Poffibility of having the Kingdom re- taken from him, by any of his Brother’s Defcen- dants. But thefe Meafures prov’d ineffectual. For though her facred Function enjoin’d perpe- tual Virginity under Pain of being buried alive, yet the young Lady was bold enough to breals through the Tie of her Religion, and carry ona fecret Amour with fome unknown Lover, till fhe was brought to Bed of two Twins, Romulus and Remus. ‘The Infants were expos’d on the Banks of the Tider, ina Manner not much un- like the Story of Mo/es ; but Providence inter- pofing for their Prefervation, they were taken up and educated by Fau/fulus a Shepherd, and his Wife, a common Proftitute, call’d in Latin, Lupa, which fignifies a She Wolf; whence fome | Authors affirm the Children were found and fuckled by a Wolf*. When they came to Age, they kil’d Anulius, and reftored the Kingdom to Numitor their Grand-Father4, After which the Youths left Alba the Royal Seat of Numitor, and undertook the building a City on the Banks of the Tiber, on the fame Spot * where they had been expofed to Death in their Infancy. But a Quarrel arifing between the two Brothers, Remus was foon taken off; and Romulus the Founder of the new City remain’d its fole King ; and call’d it (as is the vulgar Tradition) after his own Name, Rome. Diomfius of Halicarnaffus intimates more than once, that the Time from © Liv. lib.i. Flor. i. cap. i, 4 Plutarch. in Romufo. © Ja ibid. et Liv. lib. i. theINTRODUCTION. 3 the Taking of Troy to the Building the City was 432 Years. ‘This was not far from the Before Reign of Hezekiah King of Fudab. eat Romulus foon peopled his little City by open-4® 7524 ing an Aflum or Place of Refuge for Renegado’s of all Ages and Denominations, who came in great Numbers from every Quarter. Out of this promifcuous Coalition he pick’d 100 of the gravett Elders to compofe his Senate, and divided the reft into three Centuries, afterwards called Tribes’, that they might be readily fammon’d forth on any Emergency. But having but few Women in his City, he invited the neighbouring People with their’ Wives and Daughters to the Celebration of the Confuakia, which were facred ¢, Games in honour of Confus, the God of Counjel, whom the later Romans will have to be Nep- ‘wne®s and in the midft of the Feftival ordered the young Men of Rome to ruth out upon the Girls, and feize every one his Wife: Upon which a War enfuing, he flew the King of the Ceninenfes in the Field ; fpoil’d him of his Ar- mour, and dedicated it to Jupiter Feretrius,at the fame time marking out the Bounds of a Temple, to that Deity on the Capitoline Hill. To this Vow of Romulus, the firt of that kind made at Rome, the moft magnificent Temple of F- diter, commonly call’d the Capitol, ow’d its irft Origin, For all thefe Atchievements, the Ro» mans after his Death (the Manner of which is unknown) worfhip’d him as a God under the Name of Quivinas: And as Zneas was fuppofed € Liv, lib. i. Alex. ob Alex. lib. i. cap. y, & Lig, lib. i, Dionyf. Hal. lib, ij, Platare, in Romulo. See the Note on the Murher of the Gods. Book I, i Lie, ib, i, et lib, iy. Ag the nfsatiasRuna. Before Chrift An. 713. Tullus Ho- ws AN. 4 INTRODUCTION. the Son of Venus, they would have Mars to be the Father of Romulus, that by this excellent Device all the Beauties of Peace and Glories of War might feem to unite in adorning that State, which derived its Source from the Goddefs of Love and the Ged of Battles, the two great Prin- ciples of Nature and Springs of Aétion. This ingenious Fiétion was undoubtedly introduced in the firft Ages of the Roman State. For tho’ we find no exprefs Mention of Venus in any Lift of Deities in the Times of their Kings ; yet it is more than probable,fhe was worfhipped by the primitive Romans under fome other Name. For April, the fecond Month of the Year, as divided by Romulus into 10 Months, was in the ‘Time of their Commonwealth dedicated to Venus, not only becaufe it immediately followed March, the Month facred to Mars; but from a Suppofition that the very Title of the Month alluded to Aggodisy, Aphrodite, the Greek Name _of the Goddefs*. Numa Pompilius, a Sabine, the fecond King of Rome, appointed the Ceremonies of Divine Ser- vice, fettled the Rites of Divination, conftituted the feveral Orders of Priefts and Divines; and in a long peaceful Reign of 43 Years! did no- thing but calculate Times, build Churches, com- pofe Liturgies, and found an Ecclefiaftical Poli- ty for the Eftablifhment of the Religion of the State by Law ; the Principles of which he pre- tended to receive by Infpiration from the God- defs Egeria. He was fucceded by Tudlus Hoftilius a Prince of a Martial Spirit, during whofe Reign the & Ovid, Fof, lib, iv. ' Phitared, in Numa. Roman:INTRODUCTION. 5 Roinans were perpetually at War with their Neighbours. In a Battle with the Veientes and the Fidenates their Allies, Metius Suffetius King of the Albans, then in Alliance with Rome, com- manded the Right Wing againft the Fidenates, and Tullus with his Romans in the Left engaged the Veientes. While Tullus was in the Heat of Action, Metius,inftead of charging the Foe, drew off his Albans, with a Defign to join that Party which fhould prove ftrongeft. ‘By this unex- pected Defertion the Romans were left uncover’d, and expos’d to the whole Fury of the Bartle. But the Roman King, being inform’d of what was done, cries out with a loud Voice, that it was by his Order Metius had wheeled about with his Corps to furround the Enemy and attack them in the Rear. This Artifice of Tu//us not only re-animated his own Soldiers, but fo inti- midated the Enemy, that the Romans gain’d a complete Victory. When the Battle was over, Tullus order’d Metius to be tied to two Chariots, the Horfes of which, being driven oppofite ways, tore him to Pieces, as a fuitable Punifhment for ae his Double-Dealing. This done, Roman Soldiers oe were difpatch’d to demolifh Ma, the Royal An, 665. Seat of their Forefathers, and tranflate all the Wealth and Inhabitants to Rome: Where the two Kindred Nations were rejoin’d, and became one People ™, Tullus being kil? with a Thunder-bolr, 41- ae cus Martius, Numa’s Grandfon, was chofen his Marti: Succeflor. He was chiefly employ’d during his Aa. whole Reign in Fortitying the City, and making it more large, commodious, and beautiful, by ” Flor, lib, i, cap iii, A theus Prifeus, Before Chrift An. 614. Servius Tullius An. 576. Cenfas. Condere Luprun, 6 INTRODUCTION. the Addition of many ufeful and magnificent Buildings. After his Death, which was natural, the here- ditary Claim of his Sons was fuperfeded; and the Crown given to Tarquinius Prifcus, a Corinthian, who augmented the Number, and rais’d the Dig- nity of the Senate. He introduced the Badges and Ornaments of the Magiftrates, fuch as Rods, Robes of State, Gold-Rings, embroider’d Gowns, gilded Chariots for Triumphs, and all the pompous Enfigns of Authority. He was the firft that entred the City in Triumph®, for a Victory gain’d over the Sadines, which Cuftom continued about 850 Years, till the Reign of the Emperor Probus, who is faid to be the laftof the Romar Generals, honour’d with a Triumph?, The Temple of Fupiter in the Capitol, or Citadel of Reme, was founded by this Prince: But he did not live to finith it, being kill'd by the Sons of Ancus Martius his Predeceffor. Servius Tullius, born a Slave %, was the fixth King of Rome. He it was that inftituted the Cenfus s by which is meant a Mutter or Survey of all the Citizens, together with the Valuation of their particular Eftates. This was afterwards perform’d every five Years by Officers appoint- ed for that Purpofe and cail’d Cenfors ; who befides were impower’d to infpect into the moral Condn& of the Nobility, Gentry, and others, 7 and at the Sad of five Years to make a {olemn Attonement for the People by Sacrifice, which was call’d Luferation, or Burying the Luftrum, in this King’s Reign the Number of CitizensINTRODUCTION. y ts taken at the Cenfus was, inclufive of Country- Men, 84,000. He likewife improved upon Roimulus’s Plan, and divided the City into four Tribes, which were afterwards increas’d to 35°. The Ranks or Orders of the Knights, Gentry, and others, he call’d Clafes'. Thefe were again fubdivided into Centuries, in fo nice and regular a Manner, that their feveral Eftates, Dignities, Ages, and Profeffions might be known by in- fpecting the public Records. The whole was fo conduéted that the Rich had the Care and Patronage of a certain Number of Poor, pro- portion’d to the Rate of their refpective Eftates. Thefe poor Dependants were call’d Clients, and the Ties between them and their Patrons became fo facred among the Romans, that it was deem’d by their Laws a Capital Crime for a Patron to deceive or injure his Client, whom he was to reckon nearer to him than any Relation, except his Children *. Servins was at laft kill’ by Tar- Trg quin, his Succeflor, and Son-in-Law by marry- # 8# ing his Daughter Tullia, who was likewife ac- Before ceilary to the Murther of her Father. Chritt The laft King of the Romavs was Tarquin, fur- 532. nam’d The Proud. Vie finifh’d the Capitol, and was very fuccefsful in his Wars with the neigh- ‘bouring Nations. But his haughty Behaviour and Tyrannous Abufe of Power rendred him fo odious to his Subjeéts, that he was at laft de- thron’d and expell’d the City cn account of a * Cicero in Verr. i. et Afconins ad lo um, Agrar. i ii & Philip, vi, Liv. lib. i Ib, ii. jet iv. Appian. Bell. Civ Cie. De legeLucretia’s Story. 8 INTRODUCTION. Rape committed by one of his Sons on Lucre- tia a Roman Lady. The Story is as follows. Tarquin had invefted Ardea a Town of the Ruiul, about 18 Miles from Rome. His three Sons Titus, Aruns, and Sextus, were with him in the Army. As this was a long Siege, Leave of Abfence was frequently given to the Officers of Diftin&tion, to go to Rome about their private Af- fairs. It happen’d that Sextus Tarquin, the King’s youngeft Son, made an Entertainment one Evening at his Tent, before the Town, for his Brothers and the other Princes of the Blood ; among whom were Brutus, Son of Tarquinia, the King’s Sifter, and Collatine Tarquin, Nephew to the King; for it is the general Opinion, that the King’s Father and Col/atine’s were Brothers’. After Supper the Royal Youths, being merry with Drinking, among other Topics of Dif courfe, began a Difpute, which of the Company ~ had the belt Wife. Collatine propofed, as the fureft way of Trial, to mount their Horfes im- mediately, and by coming upon each of their Wives unawares, fee, which of them was em- ploy’d in a Manner moft becoming the Marriage- State. The Propofal pleas’d; and the whole Company rode away immediately, firft to Rowe, where they found the other Ladies engaged either with ceremonious Vifiters, or in idle Di- verfions. From thence they proceeded to Co?- latine’s Houfe at Collatia, about five or fix Miles from the City, and entring abruptly, found Lucretia iting at Work among her Maids, and direéting each in her Duty, with all the Digni- ty of a fober, chafte, and frugal Matron. The * Lie dib.i. Eatrop ib, i. _ DifputeINTRODUCTION. 9 Difpute was foon decided in Favour of Lacie- tia; and Collatine was unanimoully allow’d to have the beft Wife. But Sextus, being fmitten with the Beauty and fweet Behaviour of Lucre- tia, from that Moment conceiv’d a Defign of attacking her Virtue. Accordingly a few Days after he returns to Collatia in the Evening, with only one Attendant, and goes to Lucretia’s Houfe, as on afriendly Vifit. “The Lady, with- out the leaft Sufpicion of Evil, receiv’d him very courteoufly, and entertain’d him in a Man- ner fuitable to his Character. After Supper he was conduéted to a beautiful Apartment, where he was to lic; becaufe he had intimated he dhould not return to the Camp till the next Day. At the dead of Night, when all the Fa- mily was afleep, he breaks into Lucretia’s Cham- ber, and ftanding by her Bed-fide with his Sword drawn, whifpers to her, that he was Sextus Tarquin, and that if fhe made the leaft Noifé he would immediately ftab her. “He then proceeds to ufe all poffible Means to bring her over to his Purpofe, fometimes threatning, fometimes promifing, and fometimes intreating. But the Lady continuing inflexibly virtuous, he told her at laft, that if fhe perfifted in her Obftinacy, ze would not only kill her, but cut the Throat of one of the Men-Servants, and put him into her Bed, and tell her Hufband that he caught his Wife in the A&t of Adultery with his Slave, and that, being jealous for the Honour of his Family, he had in his Anger kill’d them both. Of all the Paffions of the Soul the Power of Pride is moft extenfive. By this, as by a Spring, the feveral Movements of the human Mind are actuated and directed, It is to this Principle we are10 INTRODUCTION. are beholden for moft of that Valour and Vir- tue the World fo much admires; fince the moft famous Heroes and Heroines of all Ages, acting from this Motive, have dreaded a Wound in their Character, more than the Lofs of their Innocence, and have therefore taken the utmoft Care not fo much to avoid the Guilt of being culpable, as the Shame of appearing fo. This was fufficient- ly verified in Lucretia, that celebrated Example of conjugal Faith and Chaftity. She who had been deaf to Prayers and Intreaties, had rejected all offer’d Rewards, and had remain’d intrepid- ly firm againft the Threats of Death itfelf, was conquer’d by the Fear of Difgrace; and chufing rather to yicld up her Honour, than have it falfely impeach’d, fhe endured Adultery to fave herfelf from the Scandal of an Adultrefs. Tar- guin, having gain’d his Ends, return’d to the Camp. But Lucretia difpatches Letters imme- diately to her Father Spurias Lucretius, and to her Hufband ; who came accompanied, the former by Publius Valerius, the latter by Bru- tus. As foon as they entred the Houle, the La- dy, with a dejected Look and a melancholy Voice, related the Story of her Wrong; and hav- ing recommended to them to revenge the Indig- nity, ftabb’d herfelf with a Knife conceal’d for that Purpofe under herCloaths. Her dead Body was by Brutus’s Direétion carried out and ex- pos’d to public View, and, the more to in- fame the Minds of the People againft the Fa- - mily of the Zarguins, the Story was told with fuch exaggerating Circumftances, firft at Colla- tia, then at Rome, and: laftly to the Army be- fore Ardea, that it prov’d the Occafion of abo- lithing Kingly Power at Rese, and altering, the on-INTRODUCTION. Ir Conttitution of the Romans, after they had been ruled by feven Kings for the Space of 244 Years *, Upon the Expulfion of Zarquia and his Sons, Confals. the fupreme Power was lodged in the Hands of Before two Confuls, who were to be elected by the Peo- ple, and their Government to laft no longer than one Year; that the Shortnefs of their Power (fays Salluf¥) might not permit them to grow infolent. Brutus, and Collatine, Lucretia’s Huf- band, who had been moft active in driving out the King and his Family, were chofen the two firft Confuls of Rome: But Collatine was oblio’d to relinquifh his new Dignity on account of his near Relation to Tarquin; who was fo odious to the Romans, that they could not endure, that one of his Family and Name fhould remain in the City. Valerius Poplicola was fubftituted in his Room ; who ceded the Power of Life and Death to the People*, by granting them the Privilege of an Appeal from the Confuls in criminal Matters; and put in Execution every popular Meafure, that could conduce to make the Romans more in Love with the Liberty ob- tain’d by the late Revolution. While the two Confuls were thus zealoufly Breas employ’d in promoting the public Weal, fome ae = as a. 15 CWn young Noblemen form’d a fecret Confpiracy in gone for order to effect the Reftoration of the banith’d Treafon. King : But the Plot being difcover’d, the Con- fpirators, among whom were the Sons and Nephews of Bratus, fuffer’d capital Punithment, Brutus himfelf ftanding by, and ordering the An. 507. * Liv. et Dicmyf. Halic. ¥ Bell. Cat. 2 Liv, hb i, Flor. lib. i. cap. ix. Execu-12 INTRODUCTION. Execution of his own Children®. After this; Terquin having applied to the Veientes and other neighbouring Cities for Affiftance, a Battle en- fued ; in which Brutus killd Aruns, Ti arquin’s Son, with his own Hand, and being wounded himtelf, fell down and expired upon him. Se- veral other Alliances were form’d in Favour of the Royal Family. But the Romans havirg Didator created a new Officer, called a Difator, and in- cxeated. yefted him with difcretional Power, to lat no Jonger than fix Months', they fuccefsfully de- fended their Liberties ; and Tarquin was at laft oblig’d to retire, and give up all Hopes of ever recovering his Kingdom. i But net long after, the Nobility of Rome af- Reto fuming too much, on the Merits of their An- An.4g2. Ceftors, and foolifhly claiming a Right to op- prefs the State, becaufe their Fathers had done it Service, the Commons made a Defeétion ; nor could be reconciled, till they had obtain’d the Privilege of creating two new Magiftrates to defend their Liberties ‘ from the Pride and En- croachments of the Nobility. ‘Thefe Magi- Tribunes ftrates were called Tribunes of the Commons, and. of the were vefted with Power, in many Refpects fu» Commons nerior to that of the Confuls. Their Number was afterward increafed to ten; and their Au- thority held fo facred, that they were call’d Sacro- fondi : For, tho’ they had a Right to punifh¢ Delinquents of every Office and Quality (the Dictator only excepted) themfelves were ac- countable to none but the People ®. Their In- 2 Liv lib.i Virg. den. vi. verf. 817. &c. » Lia, Ub. i. Pletarch. in Camillo. © Liv. lib. ii, Diony/. Hal. ib. vi. © A, Gellius, Vib. xiii, cap. xii, © Plutar.in Tib. Gracch. flitutionINTRODUCTION. 33 ftitution was certainly very falutary to the Re- public ; and tho’ forme Tribunes carried their Power beyond due Bounds, yet they may juft- ly be call’d the Bulwarks of the Roman Liberty. For by their Means the People afterwards ob- tain’d, that one Conful at leaft fhould always be chofen out of the Commons ; and that no Laws fhould be enatted, tending to enflave or impoverith the People*. For the Tribunes had the Privilege of a Negative Voice ; and might, if they thought proper, hinder any Law from paffing § by ftanding up and pronouncing the Word Veto, I forbid. Hitherto the Romans had been govern’d by Before Cuftom and the Authority of the Chief Magi- Chritt {trates without any Body of written Laws. But#5'- it was now thought requifite to fix the Balance between the feveral Orders of the Community, by ftanding Laws in Wniting. To this end De- legates were difpatch’d to Athens to collect a Syitem of Laws from that wife and learned paws of People. At their Return the Confular Power the XI was difcontinued, and Ten new Magiftrates Tables. were created under the Title of Decemuiri. Thefe regulated the Laws brought from Athens, and had them written on Ten Tables of Brafs, to which were added Two more the next Year : And thefe Twelve Tales contain’d the whole Body of the Reman Laws, at that Time, relat- ing to Religion, Polity, and private Property. The Rule of the Decemviri however was but of fhort Duration. For one of them, Appius Clax- dius, defigning to deflower the Daughter of Virginius an Officer in the Army, employ’d one £ Lig. lib xxvii. etuxxix. & Vide Tacit, Annal. 16. cap. 26. : ofRome burnt. Before Chrift An. 387. 14 INTRODUCTION. of his Creatures to lay Claim to her, as to his Slave; and to profecute his pretended Right by Law. This was accordingly put in Execution, and the Caufe brought for a Hearing before p- pius, who foon gave Judgment in Favour of the Claimant. But the Father of the Virgin ftabb’d her with his own Hand, to free her from the Dithonour defigned her by the Decemvir ; and with the Affiftance of Icilius, to whom he had betrothed her, rais’d a Sedition in the Army, which ended in the Abolition of the Decemviral Power, the third Year after it’s Inftitution }. What Sallufti obferves of the Athenians, that their Affairs are celebrated as miraculous thro’ the whole World, only in Proportion to the Number and Genius of their Writers, who ex- toll’d them, may with equal Juftice be applied to other Nations. The Roman Hiftorians relate many pompous Stories of the Tranfactions of their Anceftors both before and after the Abo-. lition of Kingly Power, and extoll the perfonal Valour of particular Citizens even to the Height of poetic Fiction. But notwithftanding all thofe oftentatious Traditions, fupported by frequent Miracles and Prodigies, there is very little in the Roman Hittory worth relating, till the firft Punic ov Carthaginian War, if we except the tal- ing of Rome by the Gauls in the Year of the City 365, Fabius the Conful had oppos’d their Progrefs, but receiv’d a complete Overthrow with all his Army at the River Alia, about eleven Miles from Rome. This Battle was fought on the 18th of July *, which was afterwards mark’d as. Hib. ii. et Diony/: Hal. lib ii. 5 Bell. Vid. Liq, lib. vic poft principium, ct Lacie. a blackINTRODUCTION. 15 ablack unlucky Day in the Roman Calendar. The Battle ended, the Gauls advanced to Rome, which they entred the next Day, put to Death all they. met, and laid the City in Ashes. ‘About 1000 of the Youth had retired into the Capitol, under the Command of Manlius 5 where they fuftain’d a Siege. of fix Months, nor could the Gauls in all that Time take the Citadel, either by Storm or Surprize. One Night in- deed they atmoft effeéted the latter ; but the ‘Watch being alarm’d by the Cackling of fome Geefe, Manlins vepelled the Enemy, and fav’d the Capitol; wpon which account Geefe were afterwards reckon’d facred Animals and main- tain’d, together with Dogs, at the public Ex- pence, for a Guard to that Temple! The Romans at \aft ftipulated with the Gauls, that the latter fhould depart on the Payment of ro00l). Weight of Gold ; but by the Interven- tion of Camillus, whom the Romans had before banifhed, and now recalled from his Exile in Ardea, the Bargain was null’d, and the Gauls driven from Rome with great Slaughter. The Gauls being difpers’d, the Romans re- built their City, making magnificent and ftately Houfes, where only Cottages had ftood before 5 fo that Rome rofe with augmented Glory, like a Pheenix, from her own ‘Afhes. After continual Fights and Skirmithes with their Neighbours, the Romans, under Dolabella, gave the Gauls a {inal Overthrow, took their City Sena, and made it a Roman Colony; and then ftretch’d. their Conquefts in Italy, as far as Tarentum , the 1 Cicero, pro Seat. Roftio. Inha-Before Chrift 281. FirttPunic War. An, 264, An. 241. Second Punic War. An. 218. 16 INTRODUCTION. Inhabitants of which, aided by Pyrrbus ™ King: of Epirus, a Country on the Jonian Sea, South of Macedonia, held them in War almoft four Years, but were at laft entirely defeated ; and the Romans remain’d Matters of Italy. Elate with this firft Conquelt of a Foreign Enemy, and not content with their prefent Dominions, they refolved to augment them by the Addition of Sicily, That Ifland was at the fame Time claim’d by the Carthaginians, whence arofe the firft Punic War, in which for the firft four Years the Succefs was various. But inthe fifth Year the Romans gain’d their firft Victory by Sea. For having built in ten Weeks Time 160 Vef= fels °, and given their Command to Duillius the Conful, they beat the Carthaginians in a Sea- Engagement, and then carried the War into Africa : Where they at firft met with fome Suc: cefs; but were afterwards overcome by the Car- thaginians, whom they beat again at Sicily, and wrefted the Ifland out of their Hands. A Peace was made with the Carthaginians , and the Romans fhut the double Gates of Fanus’s Temple?. But foon after, the fecond Punic War broke out, 534 Years* from the Building of the City. Hannibal had fubdued all Spain with- in the River Jberus, and taken and fack’d the Town Saguntum, then in Alliance with Rome. This the Romans refenting, declared War againft the Carthaginians, as Violators of the Treaty. Upon which Hannibal, having pafs’d the Pyrenean ™ Vide Plutare. in Pyrrho. Panfani. lib. i. Paul. Orof, lib. iv. cap. i. Epitom. ad Liv. lib. xii, xiii, xiv. a Flor, lib, i. cap. xix. © Idem lib ii. cap.ii. —P Fell, Pater. lib. ii. cap. xxxvili. Ovofius lib. iv. cap. x. 4 Vide Polybi. 2b. iii, et vi. : Mown-INTRODUCTION. Wy Mountains, and the lps, penetrated into Italy, and beat the Romaxs in three fucceffive Battles. After fome little Stop put to the Progrefs of the Cathaginians by the {low and prudent Meafures of Quintus Fabius the Conful, another impor-Zegore tant Battle was fought at Canna, alittle Village Chria, of Apulia; where were flain ‘ of the Romans An. 2143 40,000 Foot, 2,700 Horfe, with an equal Number of Allies and Citizens; among thefe were one of the Confuls, two Queftors, twenty- one Military Tribunes, and eighty of the Se- natorian Dignity ; 3,000 Foot and 300 Horle were taken Prifoners: And had Hannibal after this great Victory proceeded immediately to the City, Rome mutt have fallen under the Cartha- ginien Power. But Fate had decreed, that the Romans fhould be Lords of that Part of the World; which was effected not fo much by their own Valour, as thro’ the iniquitous Ad- miniftration of Hanno, Head of a Faétion at Carthage, and Hanwibal’s bitter Enemy ; who by Corruption and Venality in the Senate undid all, that the greateft General in the World had atchiev’d in the Field. Supplies of Men and Money were either denied, or fent too late to be of any Service; his Progrefies were impeded by Counter-Orders ; and his Counfels either cor- rupted, or betray’d to the Enemy. The Ro- mans, having conquered Hannibal's Brothers, and retaken the principal Towns in Spain under the Jurifdiction of the Carthaginians, made a Di- verfion into Africa; where Scipio, affifted by Mafinifa, King of Numidia, gain’d feveral im- portant Victories, and at laft overthrew Hanni- dalin a decifive Battle. Carthage was oblig’d An, igg. ® Liv. lib. 22. B to18 INTRODUCTION. to fue to Rome for a Peace, and accept it on fuch Terms, as it pleas’d her Rival to impofe, being reduc’d to this Neceffity by the Envy of Haunibal’s Glory‘. This important Conqueft gained over a formidable Enemy, that had ter- rified, weaken’d, and diftrefs’d them in a fecond ‘War of nineteen Years, fo fenfibly affected the Senate with Joy, that Scipio for the Atchieve- ment was honoured with the Title of Africanus 5 which was the firft Inftance t of a Cuftom, that obtain’d ever after among the Romans, of calling their Generals and Emperors by honorary Ap- pellations relative to the feveral Countries they had conquered. The Romans had been reduced to the laft Di- ftrels by Hamibal, who by beating them taught rit Methem to conquer, “till they rofe from their Ca- avin a ae . ny * cbaie lamities into Glory and Power. The Athenians, War. being opprefled by Pdilip, King of Macedonia, Before implored the Affiftance of the Romans, who Aaa defeated the King, and reftored to the Greeks ANT9° heir Liberty. But Per/es, Philip’s Son, the second laft King of the Macedonians, about 150 Years Macedsnic atter Alexander the Great, renewing the Quar- vie 6 rel, the Romans gave him a total Overthrow. 109: Traunibal had fled to Antiochus, King of Syria; which was fufficient to give the Senate of Rome a new Alarm. For tho’ Antiochus was a weak effeminate Prince, incapable of any martial En- terprize, yet as Haniibal was with him, he was reckon’d formidable; the very Name of the Cartheginian being more terrible to Rome than the Sight of whole Armies of Enemies. How- ever Antiochus never trufted Hannibal with any 6 Gorn, Nep. in vita Hannib, Jufin, lib. 38. cap. 4. * Liv. ese i sen LED ats ThingINTRODUCTION. 1g ‘Thing above the Command of a few Ships, which were funk and difpers’d by the Enemy ; and Hannibal oblig’d to fly to Prufias, King of Bithynia, where he poifon’d himfelé". For the Romans had fent to demand him, as thinking themfelves in perpetual Danger, while thar. great General furviv’d, tho’ without an Army, who had once advanced to within three Miles of their City. Macedonia foon after became a Province toThird Px- Rome. Carthage again renew’d the War ; butaic War. after four Years that City, the moit formidable Geter Rival of the Rowan Greatnefs, was utterly de- eee molifh’d; and Rome, now freed from the greateft and longeft Terror fhe ever fuifer’d, ftretch’d An- 145+ her Conqueft over Greece and Spain ; and then carried her Arms again into fa. After the Overthrow of Ariftonicus, King of Pergamus, Jugurtha, King of Numidia, kept Fugu the Romans in War for feveral Years, prevailing shine War not fo much by Arms as Money *. For with 109 rich Prefents, feafonably applied, he corrupted the Senate, bribed the Generals, and protracted the War, ’till it grew a ferious Affair, and fu- gurtha began to be formidable. Ave‘ellus was the firft that effe€tually weaken’d his Power ; but Marius, having obtain’d the Province of Nu- snidia, put an End to the long inglorious War: Vor after a bloody Battle fought near Cirtha, in which the Romans came off with fome little Ad- vantage; Jugurtha was treacheroully betray’d by Bocchus, King of the Moors, his Ally’, and delivered up to Sylla, Marius’s Legate. Sylla ” Cor. Nep.in vita Haan. Aurel. Vidor. in Han. > Salluf. Bell, Fug. ¥ Tdem ibid. Ba carried20 INTRODUCTION. carried him to Marius, who return’d to Rome in Before ‘Triumph, with Fugurtba his Captive, bound in Chrift, Chains, to grace the Proceffion. An. 105. After this Rome was miferably wafted with Civil War; which fill’d her Streets and Fields An. 86. with the Carcafes of her own Citizens and Al- lies: Sylla, Cinna and Marius were the Heads of the contending Faétions: Each conquer’d and tyranniz’d in his Turn. Sylla was at laft victorious ; but the Calamities ftill exifted, when the War was no more. The infulting ViGor let loofe his Vengeance on all that had efpous’d the Caufe of Marius, and revell’d in the Blood of Thoufands of his Fellow-Citizens. Catalin’s Soon after followed Cataline’s Confpiracy 5 Compa which was deteéted by the Vigilance and Cun- 6, ning of Cicero, then Conful. The Chief of the Confpirators were executed in the City 5 and. the other Conful was fent againft Cataline and. his Rebel Forces. This Action was fharp and bloody : Cataline was kill’d in the Field, and his whole Army cut to Pieces *. During all thefe Civil Commotions at Home, an important War was carried on in the Eaft, againft Mitbridates, King of Pontus. That powerful Prince maintain’d a dubious Conteft with the Remans for thirty Years *, and was three Times beaten ‘ before he could be quite fub- An. 83. dued. The firft Defeat of his Forces he re- An72 ceived from Sylla, Lucullus gave him his fecond -7® Overthrow: But his final Ruin was completed by Pompeys who with Cefar and Craffus, had then the Management of all the Roman Affairs. 2 Salluft, Bell. Cat. & Paul. Oros. lib. 6. ad finem. Florus habet 40. fed falfo, ¢ Vide Fuven, Sat. 6. Verf. ult, PompeyINTRODUCTION, 2 Pompey overthrew the Colchians , ftruck Terror into all the Nations round about ; and in his Return penetrated into Syria and Judea. He entered Damafcus and Ferufalem, received Ho- mage from the ews‘, and extended the Power pefore of Rome over great Part of Afia. Gaul was re- Chrift, duced by Fulius Cefar in a Series of Battles for An. 61. nine fucceflive Campaigns *, in which he flew (if Pliny may be credited) 1,192,000 Enemies. But the Parthians gave the Romans a fhameful Defeat under the Command of Craffus; who was kilPd ‘, and his Army entirely cut to Pieces, except a few that faved themfelves by Flight into Armenia, Cilicia, and Syria *. And now a worfe Civil War broke out be- tween Cefar and his Son-in-law Pompey, which : fpread thro’ all the Parts of the World within either the Dominion or Friendfhip of the Ro- mans. After feveral Defeats and Succeffes of Pompey and his Party, the fignal Stroke was given near Philippi, in Theffaly, where upwards of 300,000 Men * being engag’d, Fortune, af- ter a bloody Difpute, declared for Cefer. Pom- pey, with a few Followers, Hed to Pelufium in. Egypt ; where he was treacheroufly murthered in the Sight of his Wife and Friends ‘ by Order of Ptolemy the young King, who happen’d to be there carrying on a War againft his Sifter Cleopatra, whom he had a few Months before expelled her Kingdom *. His Death was not long unrevenged ; for a War enfuing between 48. 4 Flor 1.3.0. 5. Aurel. Vidor. in Pomp. © Pateres lib. 2. c. 47. Sueton. in Ful. Caf c.25. § Vell. Pat. 1.2... 46. Plutarch in Crago. Flor. lib. 3.c.11. 8 Idem ibid. Idem lib, 4. c. 2, Lucan. Plutar. Appian, & Aurel. Vitor. k Cejar de Bell, Civil. lib. 3. B3 Celar‘Before Chrift ae An. 43- 22 INTRODUCTION. Cefar and Proleiny, after feveral adverfe and profperous Engagements, the perfidious King was vanquifh’d in a decifive Battle; from whence ende vouring to efcape by Water he was drown’d, and the Kingdom of Egypt divided by Cefar, between Ptolemy’s younger Brother, and his Si- fher Cleopatra '. During thefe Tyanfactions, Scipio and Cato, in Alliance with ube, King of Mauritania, renew’d the War in Africe: But Cefar was fill victorious. ‘Juba and Scipio were routed: The latter killed himfelt in his Flight, and Cato, who was then at Utica, upon hearing the fatal News, followed his Example. The laft Scene of AGion was at Maida, a Town in Spain, where Cefar experienced a fharp and dubious Confli& ; in which he was funk almoft to Def- peration, For his hardy Veterans retiring be- fore Pompey's Sons, he gave up all for loft, and was going to difpatch himfel! with his own Wea- pon ™; but by afudden u countable Return of Spirits, a@uming Courage from Defpair, he leaps from his Horie", rufhes into the thickeft of the Foe, and by his own Example reanimates his flyi , who immediately rallied, and at lait u routed the Enemy. After this great Vidtory he returned to Rome, where he followed Sy//a’s Example, and made himfelf Perpetual Dictator 5 than which nothing could be more incompatible with the Conftitu- tion of the Romans, who never chofe a Dictator, but upon fome fudden Emergency 5 and always obliged him to abdicate his Office, as foon as \ Hirt. Bell. lex. ™ Flor. lib. 4. cap. 2." Paterc. HD. 26. 55+ theINTRODUCTION. 23 the Situation of Affairs no longer required a Commander invefted with fuch abfolute Power. Brutus and Caffius, at the Head of a Confpiracy, made a bold Struggle for the Recovery of their Country’s Freedom, by ftabbing Cefar in the Cesar Senate-Houfe. But their ill-timed Zeal was ftabb'd. thrown away upon a degenerate Race of Vaflals, before who were unwilling, and therefore unworthy to ae = i. ns 42. be free. Slavery to fuch Spirits was abfolutely neceffary ; and this Attempt was made by the miftaken Bruizs in an improper Age, and among Romans, who in nothing but the Name refembled thofe, who lived 465 Years before; when very different Succefs attended the like heroic Patriotifm of the former Brutus, his An- ceftor, in the Abrogation of Regal Power. The Senate indeed after C.efer’s Death abolifhed the Cuftom of making a Dictator °; but Rome ne- ver after recovered her Liberty. For Mark Anthony being look’d on as an Ene- my by the Senate for his turbulent, factious and infolent Behaviour, tho’ Cicero could not per- fuade them to judge him a Rebel in Form *, Oéfavius, Cefar’s Heir and Son by Adoption, was fent as Proprztor with the two Confuls, Panfa and Hirtius, at the Head of a powerful Army, to reduce him to Obedience. athony was at length put to Flight; but one of the Confuls being flain in the Battle, and the other dying foon after, the Command of the Army remained in the Hands of Ofavius Cafar ,; who was made Conful when he was but 20 Years4™ 41 old *; though the ordinary Cuftom required the © Cicero Philip. 1. Dio lib. 36. P Vide Cicer. Philip. alt. 9 Vell. Pat. lib, 2. 65. B4 Age‘ag INTRODUCTION. Cicero put to Death Brutus and Caffius over- thrown. Sextus Pompeius. Age of the Candidates for that Office to be 42 Years‘. Through the Mediation of Lepidus, Ofavius was reconciled to Anthony; and thee three compofed a Triumvirate fatal to the Li- berty of Rowe, and the Lives of her principal Citizens. For cach Triumvir made a Point of facrificing his neareft Relations in Complaifance to his Collegues*. Cicero was in the Number of the Profcrib’d, and was murthered in the 64th Year of his Aget; his Head and right Hand * were cut off and ftuck up to public View on the Roftrum, by Anthony's Order, as a Revenge for thofe poignant Speeches made againft him by the incomparable Orator. Oéfa- ins and Anthony march’d their Forces into Ma- cedonia againtt Brutus and Cafius, to revenge the Death of Ce/er; a Place of the fame Name *, but not the fame Place, where Pompey had been ruin’d (as Florus erroncoufly afferts) was the Scene of AGion. And tho’ neither uthony nor Ofavius was in the Battle themfelves”, yet their Parties remain’d Matters of the Field. For the Wing where Cafizs commanded being put into Diforder, he commanded one of his Officers to kill him, through q miftaken Opinion that Brutus \ikewife was worfted. His Death fo difpirited the whole Army, that the Advantage Brutus had gain’d was in a few Days * over- thrown ; their Forces were routed, and Brusus, imitating the Example of Caffizs, died by the Hands of one of his Attendants. After this, Sextus Pompeius, one of Powpey’s Sons, who had efcaped from the Battle at Munda, ‘eer. Philip. V. © Patere, 1. 2. . 67. ' Liv. & Eufib, * Diog7, —» Vide Riguezad Paterc. lib. 2. rtr~t~”r....—C...:—CS:rszrDsC aC e:CsCsC¥zsiONS had.INTRODUCTION. (25 had feveral Engagements, with various Succefs, both by Sea and Land, with Oéfavius and his Party ; but was at laft vanqu' fhed in a Sea-fight, and obliged to fly with two or three Ships into Afia, and was afterwards murthered at Mile- tum*. Anthony, who had obtained the Province of Afa, received a total Overthrow from the Parthians. From thence he fled into Exyps ; and ‘having divorced Ofavius Cefar’s Sifter, his former Wife, married Cleopatra, as if he de- figned to reign as King of Egypt. But Ofa- vins refenting the Affront, overcame Anthony in a Sea-fight at Afium; whence be fled back to Egypt, where he and Cleopatra died by their own Hands; and Egypt became a Province to the Romans. Ofavius now remained fole Lord of Reme and her Dominions, which he governed under the Title of Prince’. For he had before fo cruthed Lepidus and his Faction in Sie, that he obliged him to refign his Share of tac Go- vernment, and be contented with Leave +o live‘. He greatly inlarged the Roman Dominions, and fhut the brazen Gates on each Side the Temple of Fanus, which was the Sign of the Romans -enjoying univerfal Peace, and had never been done but once’ before, fince the Reiga of Numa, who built that Temple“. Of all the Titles given him by the Senate, that of Au- gifius was thought the moft facred; a Name adopted afterwards by all the fucceding Em- * Strabo, Geogr. lib. iii, > Tacit. Annal. Iib. i. poft principium. © Paterc, lib. ii. cap. 80. Sueton. in du- guft. cap 16. Epitome ad Liv.129. — * Vie. Varro de ling. Latin. lib. iv, Plut. de Fort. Roman. Mor, lib. iv. ad finem. perors.A.D.15 ODUCTION. E ed at Nola in the forty-tourtl: Year of his Reign, which took its Commence- ment from the ‘Sea-fight at Adin mentioned above. Tiberius, his Son vy Adoption, and Succef- ‘for (in whofe Time our Saviour was crucified) did not perform many great oo when he was Emperor; though before his Acceflion to that Dignity, he had often fignalized both his Conduct and Courage *. At the Beginning of his Reign he behaved with great Moderation and Equity : But afterwards ‘leaving the City he retired into Capre., a little Mand near Cam- penia, where he indulged his moft monftrous ‘Lutts, and perpetrated every kind of Cruelty. His Cuftom was to invite to his Court the Kings of fuch Nations, as he fufpected of Difaffection 5 and when he had them in his Power, never to Jet them return to their Kingdoms’, Among thefe was the King of Cappadocia, whom he de- tained, and reduced his Kingdom into a Roman Province. At his Demife the Imperial Purple was given «to Caligala, on account of the admirable Vir- tucs of his Father Germanicus ‘, whom Auguftus had obliged Tiberius to adopt; though Tiberius fo hated him for his Popularity, that it was com- monly thought, he effected his Death by Poi- fon’. Caligula was more like his adoptive ndfather, than his natural Father; running iuch intolerable lengths of Cruelty, that he foon became as odious as $ his Predeceffor. He under- took one Mock-!xpedition againft the Germans: @ Paterc, lib, ii, Sucton. in Tiberio. ’ Tdem ibid. Extrop. Mth. vit. © Sueton. in Calig. c.13. 4 Idem cap. 12. forINTRODUCTION. 27, for which he ordered himfelf a Triumph ¢, tho? he had hardly feen the Enemy. -He was mur- thered at laft in his Palace’, and was fucceded by Claudius, a Prince of a middle Character 5 Cheudizs, who was rather culpable for permitting Enjuttice A. Dz 42. than doing its. In fhort, Claudins was fo ftu- pid, that he neither excellecl much in Virtue nor Vice. He was the firft after Julius Cefar”, that invaded our IMland, firft by Plautus his Con- filer Legate, who fo harafled and diftreffed the Britons, that the Emperor, a few Days after his landing on the Ifland, made himfelf Matter of great Part of it without much Oppofition'; for which he aéted a pompous Triumph, as if him- felf had conquered by Arms, what was only furrendered through Terror and Diffentions among, the Natives. It is agreed on by all Hi ftorians, that his Death was effected by Peifon, but by whom and in what Manner, is unde- cided *. Cleudius however was an excellent Lumperot, if compared with his Succeffor Nera; who at Nive, firft, indeed, fet out in the Charaéter of a great 4.1. 55. Reformer; nor are there wanting in his Life feveral Inftances of many Civil Virtucs ‘) pare ticularly Munificence, which he perlevered in to the End, or rather increafed it to Prodiga- lity. The two Vices to which he had an utter ‘Averfion, were Stinginefs ‘and FHypocrily. Teo avoid the former, he became protule ; and to difcountenance the latter, he gloried in his © Suet, in Calig.c. 47. fIdemc. 58. Extrop. lib. vii. 6 Vids Aufonii Bpigr. in Clandium b Sueton. in Claud. cap. 17. Tacit. lib, vii. c. 14. Eutrop. lib. vii. Sue- ton. in Claud. c.17. — * Idem ibid. c. 44. 1 Sucton. in Nero, ¢. 10, Crimes ;Calba, A.D. 69. 33 INTRODUCTION. Crimes ; and always pardoned, and even careff- ed thofe, who confefed their Wickednefs, from a Principle ™ he had imbibed, that there was no fuch thing as Chaftity among Men, only fome had a Valent of hiding their vicious Thoughts under the Cloak of Sanctity. But the Sequel of his Reign was little elfe than a Series of complicated Evils both to Chriftians and Pagans. To the former of thefe he was a bitter Enemy, as we are told by great Numbers of Authors. Suetonius, in his Life of Nero, expreffes himfelf thus: Very fevere Tortures were infliéted on the Chriftians, a Set of Men of a new and mifebievous Superftition. In his Time the Britons rebelled *, and the Romans fuffered the Lofs of near 70000 Citizens and Allies. At laft he wantoned with Power, threw off all Care of Government, and devoted himfelf wholly to libidinous Pleafures and theatrical Performances, in which he fung and ated his Parts among common Stage- Players; till the State being no longer able to bear a Prince abandoned to Luxury, Luft, and Cruelty, another Rebellion was raifed againft him nearer Home. The Senate judged him an Enemy, and demanded him for Punifhment. Upon which he fled fecretly out of the City to a little Country-houfe of Sporus his Freedman °, about four Miles from Rome; where after much Whining and Lamentation, he difpatched him- felf, being affifted in the Deed by one of his Attendants. Galba, in whofe Favour the Infurrection was made, enjoyed the Sovereignty a little above © Syet.in Nero. c.29. © Tacit. An.14.¢.33. Suet. in Ner.c.39. * Sueten, in Ner. ¢. 49. Eutrop, lib. vii. halfINTRODUCTION. 29 half a Year, and was then killed. For Orho ftirred up the like Sedition againft him, as he had headed againft Nero. Nor did Otho him- Othe, felf furvive the Death of Galba but a few 4 Months: For he had hardly been invefted with the Imperial Purple, before Vitellius, being de- clared Emperor by the Forces under his Com- mand, came againft him. ‘The two contend- ing Parties met at Bedriacum, a little Town in Italy, between Cremona and Verona. After a fhort Aétion, Orho’s Troops were repulfed with fome Lofs; the News of which fo affected him, that he could never be prevailed upon to rifque another Battle, though he expeéted a confider- able Reinforcement, and might probably have vanquithed his Rival *, had he undertaken a fe- cond Trial; inftead of which, he faid he would not hazard the Lives of fo many good Men for his Honour. Purfuant to this Refolution, he took leave of his Friends without the leaft Sign of Dejection, and went to Bed; where he flept foundly the whole Night ; and as foon as he awoke in the Morning, took his Weapon, which he had laid under his Pillow for that Purpofe, 70. and ftab’d himfelf. Vitellius thus obtained the itellins, fupreme Power ; but foon met with a very dif- A. D. 70. ferent End: For after a fhort Reign of eight Months, in which he fhewed many Inftances of his tyrannic Difpofition, he was feized by a Faétion in the Intereft of /e/pafan, who led him about the Streets with a Poniard under his Chin, to make him hold up his Head, while the Rabble pelted him with Stones and Dirt: After which they killed him, and dragged his Car- P Vid. Martial. lib. vi. epigr. 32. Sueton, in O1b. €. 9- cafeTitus, AD Bee 30 «INTRODUCTION, cafe with a Hook, till it was thrown into the Tiber ', Fefpofian was made Emperor in Paleftine; -whither he had been fent by Nero againft the Jews, who were ftirred up to a Revolt, by the Miulapplication of an Opinion that prevailed at that Time over all the Eaft, namely, that the Offspring of Judea thould obtain the Empire of the World". He was defcended from an . obfcure Family; which he rather vaunted than concealed, thereby thewing, that he owed his Advancement folely to his Merit. In his Reign the City Ferujalem was deftroyed ; and feveral important Provinces were added to the Ramat Dominions. He was fo ftri& a Maintainer of Military Difcipline, that he indulged his Off- cers with no manner of Delicacy. It once hap- pened that he had granted a Commiffion to a Youth more famous for Finery than Fighting : But when the young Officer came to thank him for his Favour, dreffed like a Beau, and {cent- ed with Perfumes, the Emperor looking ftern- ly on him, faid, with an angry Voice, I bad ra- cher you had finelt of Garlick® , and immediately ordered his Commiffion to be taken from him, and given to a Soldier. He died in the 6oth Year of his Age, and was fucceded by his éld- eft Son Tiizs, who had been entrufted with the chief Command of the Forces at the Siege of Feruifalem, where he fignalized his Bravery to the Admiration of the whole Army*. He was fo beloved for his Humanity, that the Romans called him, Ibe Delight of Mankind , fo gene- 4 Sweton. in Vitell. c.17. Eutrap. lib, vii. * Suet. in Yop. c.g. fIdem c.8. —* Idem in Tito, c. 6. 1 rousINTRODUCTION. 31 rous and beneficent, that he told his Friends, he had loft one Day becaufe he had done no good Office in it. He was prevented from do- ing the Good that was expected from him, by a premature Death; which fo affected all Degrees and Orders of his Subjects, that his Lofs was mourned like that of a kind Parent; nor with- out Reafon ; for he was fucceded by his Brother Domitian, who was of a Nature very different Domitian, from either his Father or Brother, refembling A.D. 8. Tiberius in Luft, and Caligula in Cruelty. At firft he behaved with great Moderation, and even Liberality. But thefe good Qualities were foon overpowered, and the contrary Vices de- throned his Reafon, and ruled him with abfo- lute Controul. Neverthelefs he was a good Soldier, and very fuccetsful’. He likewife re- paired feveral public Edifices of the City, which had been deftroyed, and added many new ones of great Beauty and Magnificence ; the Expence of which fo exhaufted his Treafury, that he was obliged to have Recourfe to Rapine and Extor- tion. He impofed heavy Fines on every reli- gious Sect, elpecially Fudaifin,; and extorted great Sums of Money from all, who were fuf- pected to be Fews; though they diffembled their Religion to avoid the Penalty. Suetonius, an excellent Writer, affures us, he himfelf was pre- fent, when an old Man of ninety Years was fearched for the Sign of Circumcifion. After he had for a long time made the Empire groan under the Preffure of a cruel and vicious Ty- ranny, he was ftab’d at laft with feven Wounds A, D. 97. in his own Bed-chamber ”. ¥ Sueton, in Domit. c. 6. Idem ¢, 17. Having32 INTRODUCTION. Having given this fhort Account of the firlt twelve Emperors of Rome, commonly called, The iwelve Cefars; before we proceed to the Lives of the other :mperors before Connnodus, it may not be improper to recapitulate, and prefent the Englifb Reader with a reflective View of the Bounds of the Romen Empire ; that by being acquainted with the Number, Situation, and Extent of its Provinces, together with the Time of their Reduétion, he may form clearer and jufter Ideas of the feveral Occurrences in the enfuing Hiftory. The Re- "The firft Country out of Ztaly, that became xan Do- tributary to the Roman State, was Sardinia. This aD Mand was reduced to Subjection by the Conful Sardinig, 7 its Manlius *, about five hundred and eighteen Years after the building of Rowe. Sicily indeed was the firft Country that the Romans called a Province": But it was not governed by Roman Magiftrates, confequently could not be termed a Province, till the Year of the City 545, after fucceflive Wars, profperous and adverte, carried on in the Ifland for almoft fixty Years*. And Holia, about twenty-one Years alter, Etolia*, a large Country in thevery Heart of Greece, together with Cephelenie, Zacynthus (now called Zant) and all Mlands of the Iands in the Jowian Sea, fubmitted to. the Ae Into" Rowan Power. Macedonia was fubdued by E- oea. ae . — . Macedonia, Milius Paulus, and laid under Tribute in the Year of Rome 516. After the Demolition of Africa. Carthage, Africa became a Province to Rome Corinth in the Year 606% Soon after, Corinth, the and Achuia, * Lie. Ib, « Patere, lib. ii, c. 38. Eutrop. lib. iii, Y Cie. in Perr, IL, ad initium. * Liv, lib. xxvii. poft principium. « Liv, lib, xxxvili, Flor, lib. ii, ec. 12. ® Conter fis Flor, lib. ii, c. 15. in initio cum Lutrop. lib. iv, Metro-INTRODUCTION. 3 Metropolis of Achaia in the Pelsponnefe, was burnt, and all that Region brought under the Roman Yoke. Great Part of Affa the Left, a Afra Mi- Country bounded by the Ezxine and Mediterra- nor. nean Seas, with the adjacent Iflands, was con- quered by Peperna, and his Succeffor ¢, about fix hundred twenty-four Years from the build~ ing the City; but Galatia had been fubdued Galatia. by Vulfo Manlius® fixty Years before. The Ci- Cilicia. cilians were firtt conquered in the Year 675. And four Years after, Bithynia was added to the Bithynia: Roman Dominions, being left as a Legacy by the Will of King Nicomedes. But the Remain- der of the Afatic Nations, bordering on the Pontus, or Black Sea, were reduced by Pompey*; who likewife fubdued Syria and Paleffine 83 Syria. while the Ifland of Crete received the Yoke Paleftine. from Metellus»; and the immenfe Riches of “re. Cyprus tempted the Roman Senate to feize that Cyprus. Iland, tho? then in Alliance with Rome. ‘This was executed by Pubkius Clodius the Tribune: Which cruel Procedure caufed Ptolemy, the then King of the Cyprians, to poifon himfelf ; and foon after Cato was fent to the Tfand, and returned to Rome with a numerous Fleet of Galleys laden with all the Wealth of the Cypri- ans, who from thence were numbered among the Roman Provincials. All thefe Exploits were finifhed about fix hundred and ninety Years af- ter the building of the City. Ancient Gaul, Gaul. © Vid. Vali, lib.iii. c. 4. Flor. lib.ii. c. 20. Epit. _ ad Liv, lib. 2. Strab. lib. iv. et Fuji. lib. xxxvi. c. 4. 4 Patere, Wid. ii. ¢. 39 Mor. lib.iit cit. © Vid. Phen tarch. in vita Pomp. et Dio. —* Plut. in Pomp. 8 Flor, lib-iii.c. 5.8 fdeme, 7. Velleius, lib. ii. ¢.38. i Flor. libiit c.g. Cc compre-Numidia. Spain. Egypt. Ulyrium. Pannonia. Cappado- sia. Britain. Cottian Alps. Pontus. Lycia. Rhodes. Byxanti- uN 34 INTRODUCTION. comprehending modern France, the Spanifh Ne- therlends, Switzerland, yy, and all the Coun- tries between the Rbixe and the Bay of Bifcay, was reduced by Julius Cefer. The South- FEaftern Part of Gau/ had indeed been made a Roitan Province about feventy-three Years be- fore by Domitins Eucharbus and Fabius Maxr- mus*; but the Reduction of the Whole was finifhed by Cwfar about the Year of the City jos’. And tho’ the firft Conqueft of Numidia was the Work of Afe‘elus™, completed in the Year 646, yet the forming it into a Province was likewife referved by Fortune to fwell the Glories of the fame Cejar?.’ Spain, Egypt, Il- Jyrinm (a Country North of the Adriatic Sea. or Gulph of Vewice, the principal Part of which now goes by the Name of Selavonia) and Part of Pannonia (now Hungary) were the Acquefts of Auguftus Cafar®. But the Remainder of Pax: nonia, and all Cappadocia, were fubjugated and became Provinces under Tiberius ® his Succeffor Claudius made the chief Conqueft of Our Ifland, great Part of which, together with the Ifles o! Wight * and Orkney’, was in his Reign added to the Roman Dominions. The Cottian Alps, between Dauphiné and Piedinoat, was the Ac- quifition of Nero: Nor was the Kingdom of Pontus reduced into the Form of a Province before his Time'. Lycia, Rhedes, Byzantinin K Flor. lib, ili c. 2 | Pater. Lii.c. 49. _™ Sallup. in Bell. Fugur. ® Patere. lib. i c.39- ? Idem ibid. Sucton in Auguflo. Plutar. Dio. Extrop. etal. 0 Velleius, lib. ii. c. 39. Tacit. Annal. lib.ii, Sweton, in Tiber, Eutrop- hb. vii. 4 Sueton. in Vefpaf. c. 4. © Vide fis Fuv. Sat. ii, 161. f Jacit. Sueton, et Aur, Vidor. in vita Nevon. Eufeb. in Chron, Olymp. Caffidior, in Conf. Rem (nowINTRODUCTION. 38 (iow Conflantinople) and great Part of Thrace, Thrace, became Provinces under Vefpafian the Elder *. All thefe once flourifhing Countries, the great- eft Part of the then known World, reaching from the River Euphrates quite to the Weftern Ocean, and extending from the Danube and Rhine, together with great Part of Britain, to Egypt, and Africa as far as the 30th Degree of Southern Latitude, were now under Subjection, and paid Tribute to the vi€torious Romans; who, atthe Time of the Expulfion of Tarquin theProud, their laft King, had not ftretched their Con. quefts above fifteen Miles from the City °. Nor was their Empire always confined within thefe Bounds; but other Acquifitions foon followed, which will be related in the Lives of the fuble- quent Princes. Domitian being taken off, to the inexpreffible Joy of almoft all under the Roman Jurifdiation, from his Death the People began to refpire from that Load of complicated Miferies, under which they had fo long laboured, and a Succeftion of better Sovereigns enfued for a confiderable’Time. Nerva was the firft that began the Reformation, Nerve an excellent Prince, whom syrius Antoninys \D. 97. could not forbear pitying, becaufe it was his Lot to take the Reins of Government among Men of fuch turbulent Spirits and vicious Mo- rals. The Shortnefs of his Reign did not per- mit him to give fo many Proofs of his Power, as of his Good-will; for he died in about fix- teen Months after his attaining to the Imperial Dignity ; but not without making excellent Pro- * Suet. in Vofp. Eutrop. lib vii. Orof. lib. vi. cap. 6. ¥ Eutrop. lib. i. Cc: vifion36 INTRODUCTION. vifion for the Happiness of his Subjects, by adopting Trajan, and nominating him his Suc- ceflor. The extraordinary Virtues of Trajan make s-fuch a glorious Deicription in Hiftory, that the Authors feem to be at a Lofs for Words to exprefs their Adm n of his Valour, Con- du&, Witdom, Jullice, and Liberality. He enlarged the Rewea Dominions beyond the Bounds reached by any of his Predeceffors, by the Acquifition of /fjrie, Armenia, Mefopota- unia, and Arabia”. From him the Parthians, and other Eaftern Nations, received their Kings, whofe Crowns were held at Trajan’s Pleafure. Nor was his Behaviour in Civil Government lefs admirable than his Succefs in War. ‘The Senate of Rome, who from giving Laws to fo- reign Nations, and difpofing of Crowns and Provinces, had been reduced by the former Emperors to the meaneft Servility and moft fhameful Corruption, under Trajan recovered fome little Glimmerings of their ancient Luftre. The Romans were fo tenfible of their Happinefs under this excellent Prince, that they even adored him while living; and after his Death, broke through the ancient Cuftom of their Fore- fathers, and rather than not exprefs their Grati- tude, by fome diftinguifhing Mark of Refpect to Trajan’s Memory, they fuflered his Reliques to be buried in the City, an Honour never given to any Prince before*; which was the more extraordinary, as Trajan was defcended frdém w Dio in Trajan. Eufeb. in Chron. Eutrop. lib. viii. = Ydem ibid, et vide Alex. ab Alex. lib. vic. 14, And {ce our Note® at the Beginning of Bock IV, TeINTRODUCTION. 33 no illuftrious Line, his Father being the firft of the Family that arrrived to any confiderable Dignity in the State: But his perfonal Merit far outweighed all the remote Privileges of Blood, which Perfons of no real Worth fo ar- rogantly claim; and it became a Cuftom among the Romans, to falute their fucceding Emperors, among other Acclamations, with thefe good Withes, Be happier than Auguftus, better than Trajan. After him Adrian obtained the Imperial Pur- Aavian, TTS, ple, having been adopted, as fome Authors re- 4 late, by Trajan; others affirm, that Trajan could never be prevailed upon to adopt, him, though his Kinfman ; but that Plotina, Lrajan’s Wife, after her Hufband’s Death, pretended, he had adopted him in his Will; and by that Device Adrian was declared Emperor ¥. He behaved with great Moderation and Generofity in the Civil Government; and perhaps had made a brighter Figure in Hiftory, had he fuc- ceded any but Yrajan, whofe fuperior Merit eclipfed the moderate Virtues.of his Succeffor. About the latter End of Zrajan’s Reign, the Fews had made feveral Infurreétions and Sedi- tions; but were reprefled by Lufits, Trajan’s General, who was afterwards Governor of Fu- dea, but upon Trajan’s Death, they raifed new Difturbances in different Parts of the World; till Adrian quelled their Tumults, and, by pu- nifhing the Ringleaders, reduced them to Sub- jeGtion. In his Time the Alenandrians found their God Apis*, which was an Ox of a very remarkable Colour, with a Turbercle under his Y Spartian, in vita Adrian. = Idem ibid. C4 Tongue.38 INTRODUCTION. Tongue*, This Ox they drowned in the Nile, and for feveral Days mourned his Lofs ; But after a long {pace of Time, when they found another exaétly anfwering in Colour, Size, and efpecially the carnous Excrefcence under his Tongue, they then fuppofed their God was ri- fen again, and come to give them another Vi- fit; upon which Occafion all Egypt kept Ho- ly-days, and celebrated Feafts, with every kind of enthufiaftic Mirth, for the Return of their Deity. No Nation in the World was fo much addiéted to Religion as the ancient Egy- ptians, and at thefe Seafons there was no Re- gard to Order or Government ; the whole Na- tion was in an Uproar; and if any dared to in- terrupt their Worthip, the Populace were al- ways ready to vindicate their Religion by Arms: Which was the Cafe in ‘Adrian's Reign, and gave that Emperor no fall Fear. But the Difpute being chiefly about the Town where {pis fhould be entertained, when that was ad- juited, the Egyptians were appeafed, and Adrian ireed from the Apprehenfions of any ill Confe- quences arifing from the Commotions of fo po- pulous a Province: For Adrian’s Abilities did not feem to confift much in War; which made him foon alarmed at the News of any Difturb- ances. He was fo far from making any new Acquefts, that he could not, or would not, re- tain what his Predeceffors left him; but upon Melpota- the Perfiens demanding the Province of Mefo- mia SVD poramia °, he gave it up without the leaft Refift- a ance. Several other large Provinces followed 2 Plix, Hift Nat. lib. viii. ¢. 40: b Vid. Herodot. Lib. iii, © Dio, et Spart, in vita Adrian, cheINTRODUCTION. 39 the Ceffion of Mefopotamia, as if Adrian took as much Pleafure to contract, as Trajan to ex- tend, the Dominions of the Empire. How-. ever, he kept up fri@ and regular Difcipline in the Army; promoted all his Officers on the Score of Merit only *, and liberally rewarded every great Aétion. He was. fuch a Lover of Travelling, that he made the Tour of all’ the Countries in the Empire *, correcting what was amifs, and encouraging and fharing all the pub- lic Diverfions. He built feveral Temples in differents Parts of the World, and-called them by his own Name; with a Defign (as a famous Author * pretends) to give them for Churches to the Chriftians. But, as there is but little Ground to think Adrian fo great a Favourer of Chri- ftianity, the Story feems sather calculated to pleafe’ fuch Chrijtians, as fondly imagined it a mighty Honour to their Religion, to have it countenanced by the Great Men of the World, aad fupported by the fecular Power. The Truth is, that Trajan, an active Prisce, and a zealous Defender of the Pagan Faith and the Religion by Law eftablifh’d, had perfecuted the Chri/tians and other Diffenters: But Arian, being of an eafier Temper, tolerated all religious Sects, and preferred Peace, both at Home and Abroad, to every other Confideration. In his private Cha- raéter, he was courteous and humane, a good Companion and a hearty Friend. dilius Verus ‘was appointed for his Succeffor, but he did not Jong furvive his Adoption. After him Adrian adopted Antoninus, atterwards firnamed Pits, 4 Spart. in vita Adrian. © Eutrop. lib. viti. § Lampridius in vit, Alexand. Sever. C4 upon40 INTRODUCTION, upon Condition that Avtoninus fhould adopt Marcus Avtoninus the Philofopher, and Lucius Verus the Son of Zlius Verus deceafed &. Thefe iwo were aiterwards Emperors both together. aintorins — Antoniaus Pius was a Prince, whofe Character hes came little hort of that of Trajan. He reduced #1,.0.130. - yy the Britons, Moors, Germans, Fews, and other revolting Provinces, to SubjeCtion®, He di- minifhed the Taxes, and kept the Collectors of them within due Bounds: To fupply which Deficiency in the Revenue, he retreached the Salaries of fuch Officers, as were of no other Ufe in their Places but to receive their Pay, it being his ufual Saying, That nothing was more Joameful, nothing more cruel, than for thofe Ver- iin to gnaw the State, who contributed nothing to it’s Increafe by their Labours'*, He was much beloved at Rome, and of great Authority with foreign Nations; though he was fo great a Lover of Peace, that he would frequently re- peat that Sentence of Scipio; I had rather fave one Citizen, than kill a thoufand Encnzies. He lett the public Treafuries rich, but exhautted his own ‘Wealth by his wonderful Liberality. When ¢ lay on his Death-bed, he fent for Marcus Antoninus his adopted Son and Succeffor, in whofe Education he had beftowed uncommon Expence and Pains, ‘and recommended to his Care the Goverment, and his Daughter Fay- Stina. Then he ordered the golden Image of Fortune, which was always kept in the Em- perot’s Bed-chamber, to be carried into Mar- & Start. in vit. bi Ver. © Vid. fis Paufan. Ful. Ca- pitel. Extrop. et Aur. Vidor, i Ful. Capitol. in Ant. Pi. * Tdem ibid. Eurrep. 1. viii cus’sINTRODUCTION. AL cuss Apartment; after which, his Fever in- creafing, he grew delirious, and in a few Days expired. Marcus Antoninus (who had married the Marcus, Daughter of Astoninus Pius) and Lucius Verus, and Son-in-law to Marcus by marrying his Daugh- Les Sy - Der. ter, held the Imperial Dignity as Collegues, and were the firft two that reigned over Rowe atone Time’. Marcus was very much addicted to the Study of Philofophy, but not to that degree, as to forget he was an Emperor. A, Rebellion breaking out among the Perthicns, Lucius undertook an Expedition agains them, while Mercus continued at Rome, intent on Af- fairs of Government, and making fuch Laws, as were wholefom to the Commonwealth. When the Parthians were fubdued, the Title of Par- thicus was given to both the Emperors: Mar- cus, indeed, modeftly refufed it at firft, as he had no Share in the Vitory, but afterwards was prevailed on to accept it. Lucius has but an indifferent Character given him by Hiftori- ans ; who report, that he devoted himfelf great- ly to Sloth and Debauchery, efpecially while he refided in Syria; committing the Care of the War to his Lieutenant-Generals™: But Marcus winked at his Son-in-law’s F; ailings, and endeavoured to make Compenfation for them by his own extraordinary Diligence and Induftry. After the Conqueft of Armenia, Parthia, and Armenia, Media, Lucius returned to Rome, with great Parthia, Reludtancy, as he did not like to be fo near his oe ' a. . conquer Spart. in vit. ZBI. Ver. Capitel, in Mar. Anton'n. et ed, Eutrop. lib. viii. ™ Capitol. in L. Ver, Eutrop, Vib. viii. " Ful. Copitel. in L, Ver, et in Mar. Anton. Brother,Marcas alone, A.D.r71. 42 INTRODUCTION. Brother, whofe grave philofophical Mosals were not very agreeable to a Man of his loofe Con- duct. When he had reigned eleven Years with his Brother, he was taken fuddenly ill, when they were both together in the Chariot, of which Ilnefs he foon died ; which gave Rife to a Suf- Picion, that Marcus had poifoned him ; becaufe Lucius defigned to make the like Attempt againft Marcus °. Marcus being left fole Emperor, applied him- felf to the Adminiftration of Affairs with re- doubled Diligence. He quelled the rebellious Provinces, conquered the Perfians, recovered Mefopotamia, beat the Germans, after a great, a painful, and a calamitous War’; and exerted all the Qualities of a brave Soldier, and a tem- perate and wife Governor. His Principles of Stoic Philofophy may be feen in his Works ftill extant. This is that Marcus of whom we find fuch honourable Mention in the enfuing Hifto- ry; and whofe pathetic Speech on his Death- bed, concerning his Son Commodus, is given by Herodian: To whom I fhall now admit the Reader, without detaining him with any longer Preamble; and referve whatever elfe may be neceflary to give him fufficient Light into the Roman Affairs, for my Notes on Heredian ; where each Circumftance worthy Notice fhall be explained, as it occafionally offers. ° Vid. Dio. et Philoftrat. in vit. Hered. P Vid. Dio et Capit. in vit. Marci. Eutrop. lib. viii. et Ammian. Mar- cen, Tid. xxi. HERO-HERODIAN's Hiftory of his own Times, OR OF The Empire after Marcus, THE PROEM. HE greateft Part of the Compilers of Hiftory, who have undertaken to renew the Memory of certain Tranfactions of Antiquity, covetous of everlafting Fame, and fearing that Silence might bury their Names in Obfcurity by mingling them among the Vulgar, have had but very lithe Regard to Truth in their Narratives, provided they could but ob- tain the Character of elegant and entertaining Writers; while they promife themfelves the ample Fruits of their Labours, in captivating their Readers with the Sweetnefs of the Narra- tion, be it ever fo fabulous; and are confident, no one will trouble himfelf to déte¢t their Falf- hood by a ftriét Examination into what they felate, Others, carried away by their own pri- vate2 HERODIAN. vate Piques, or to thew their Hatred of Tyrants, or exprefs their Flattery or Refpect to Princes, States, and even private Perfons, have, by the partial Force of Rhetoric, beftowed Encomiums exceeding all Credibility on’ AGions in them- felves trivial and contemptible. On the con- trary, Ihave, with great Care and Exaétnefs, compofed an authentic Hiftory of Tranfactions, not received by Tradition from others, not un- known, nor unattefted ; but fuch as falling within the Compafs of modern Times, are yet recent in the Reader’s Memory : Nor will it, I prefume, be a difagreeable Amufement to Po- fterity, to be entertained with a Series of Facts, which are indeed the Productions but of a few Years, and yet fo numerous and important, that whoever fhall compare the whole Courfe of Time down from Auguftus, when the Roman State degenerated into a Monarchy, to the Reign of Marcus, he will not find in all that Space, comprehending about 200 Years4, fuch fre- quent Revolutions of Government; fuch various Events of War, both inteftine and foreign; fuch Commotions of Nations; fuch Deftructions of Cities, as well within our own Territory, as among the Barbarians 5 fuch Earthquakes, and Peftilences ; and Lives of Tyrants and Princes, abounding with a Variety of fuch incredible Circumftances, as have never, or at leaft very rarely, been mentioned in the Annals of pre- ceding Ages. Some of thefe enjoyed a long = The Time from the 33d Year of Augu/tus Cafar’s Life (which is properly the firft Year of his Reign) to the Death of Lucius Verus (when Marcus remained fole Em- peror) will, on a careful Computation, be found to be exactly 200 Years, Reign,THE PROEM. 5 Reign; others were but occafional Sovereigns ; nay, fo fleeting has the Honour been to fome, that they were only flattered with a momentary Title, and loft the Dignity the very Day they obtained it. For the Romex Empire hay- ing, in the Courfe of fixty Years*, been. rent and divided among a greater Number of Po- tentates, than the Shortnefs of the Time feemed to require, it is no Wonder that fo little a Space has been crowded with a Multitude of various and furprizing Incidents. Thus the Emperors of a more advanced Age, by the Advantage of a long Experience in Bufinefs, governed themfelves and their Subjeéts with greater Circumfpection: On the other hand, they who came very young to the Government, from a negligent unthinking Courfe of living, introduced no fmall Number of Innovations. Hence it was, that from different Ages and Principles arofe as great a Diverfity in their Inclinations and Purfuits. Of all thefe I defign to treat, following the Order of the Times, and the Succeffion of the Powers. > From the laft Year of Marcus’s Life (whence Herodian begins his Hiftory) to the firt of Gordian’s Reign (wherg he ends it) are upwards of 59 Years, HERO.fa HERODIAN. BOOK I. HE Emperor Marcus had feveral Dau igh- ters, but only two Sons. One of thefe, whofe Name was Verifimus, died in his Childhood ; his furviving Brother, named Com- modus, was brought up with uncommon Care: For his Father procured from all Parts, Men moft famous for Learning, whom he invited by no mean Encouragements from their own Coun- tries, in order to complete his Son’s Education. He likewife married his Daughters, as they came to Maturity, to the moft virtuous Mem- bers of the Senate: For not fuch as were moft illuftrious by a long fucceffive Train of Ancef- tors, nor thofe who boafted of their immenfe Poffeffions; but they who excelled in a decent -Deportment, and a fober Life, were by Marcus Judged worthieft to be Sons-in-law to an Em- peror. Thefe Qualities he efteemed the true, unalienable Riches of the Mind. And though Virtues of every kind fhared in his Regard, he was peculiarly fond of ancient Erudition; in which he arrived at fo great a Perfection, that he was inferior to none, either of the Greeks or Romans; as many of his excellent Sayings and Writings, ftill extant, do fufficiently teftify. t ToCOMMODUS. § To his Subjeéts he was a gentle and moderate Prince; fo eafy of Accefs, that he ftriétly for- bad his Guards to hinder any from approaching his Prefence. In aword, he was the only King* that fhewed forth the Force of Philofophy, not by the Knowledge of Words and Sentences, but by a Dignity of Behaviour and a {ober Life. The Age, in which this Prince flourifhed, pro- duced a great Number of wife and learned Men: For Subjeéts are naturally zealous of imitating the Manners of their Sovereign. But as all the A@tions of Marcus, remarkable for Brave- ry, Wifdom, and military Polity, both among the barbarous Northern Nations and the inha- bitants of the Faft, have been faithfully record- ed by many able Writers; T fhall confine my- felf to the Narration of thofe Affairs, which have been tranfacted fince his Death in my own Times; moft of which I have feen and heard, 2 Herodian throughout the whole Hiftory but feldom afes the Word Acdxedrwe, which anfwers to the Latin, Jnperator, Emperor ; but generally calls the Sovereigns of Rome Bacsreiz, Kings. And, indeed, the Difference con- fitted only in Fancy ; for though the Romans, under their Republican State, hated the very Title of Kings, yet their Emperors were full as arbitrary and defpotic, as the mott abfolute Monarchs of other Nations. Neverthelefs they fondly kept up the Title of Imperatores, as a Term they were more ufed to, it being that with which their An- ceftors had gencrally honoured the Chief Commanders of their Armies, and fometimes the Supreme Magiftrates of their State: For we find the Term applied by their beft Writers to Civil Governors. Thus Salluff calls the two firft Confuls of Rome, Binos Imperatores, Two Emperors 5 meaning no more, than two Perfons indued with fupreme Power. This I thought proper to premife, that the Exglif Reader might not be furprized at fometimes meeting the Word King in the Courfe of the Hiftory. andA.D.180. 6 HERODIAN, Boox I. and in fome have myfelf -had no fmall Share, as I was cmployed in feveral Offices of Honour both in the Court and Government. When Marcus was advanced in Years, and Worn cut not only with Age, but the Fatigues of War, and Cares of State, he was feized in Pannonia with a violent Difeafe ; and as he had little Hope of Recovery, he beheld with Anxi- ety his Son juft entring on the Stage of Youth ; and was afraid, the Impetuofity of Paffions, fo common to that Time of Life, added to the arbitrary and unreftrained Power he was going to poffefs, when in his Orphan-State, might car- ry him away from the Purfuit of laudable Stu- dies, and give him up to Diffolutenefs and De- -bauchery. For the Minds of Youth are but too eafily diverted from the Paths of good Inftruc- tion, and fink into the fatal Gulph of Plea- fures. Many Inftances occurred to the Empe- ror (as he was a Man well read in Ancient Hiftory) of Princes who took the Reins of Go- Vernment when young; and the Remembrance of thofe encreafed his Apprehenfions. He thought on Dionyfus *, Tyrant of Sicily, a Man » There were two of this Name, Father and Son, bath alike in the Vicioufnefs of their Morals, but very different in Valour and Succefs, The Father flourithed about the Time when Rome was taken and burnt by the Gauls. He reigned about thirty-eight Years, and died a natural Death, for any thing that is certain to the contrary, His Son (the Dionyfius here meant, held the ‘Tyranny but twelve Years ; for Dion, whom he had banifh'd to Corinth, came againtt him into Sicily, while he was abfent, and with only two Tranf- ports, in three Days time, entred Syracufe, the Metropolis of the Ifland, and foon reduced all that Part of Sicily that was under the Dominion of the Tyrant. Diony/fus afver- wards fled to Corinth, where (as Authors affirm) he com- menced School-matter, abandonedCOMMODUS. 7 abandoned to Intemperance, and continually hunting after new Scenes of expenfive Pleafures. He refle€ted too on the Succeffors of Mexan- der, who, by their Haughtinefs and Violence to their Subjects, difgraced that Power with which he had invefted them. Prolemy went fo far, as to afcend his Sifter’s Bed *, in direct Violation of the Laws of the Macedons and Greeks. An- tgonus, to imitate the God Baccus, inftead of the Macedonian Caufia and Diadem, was crown’d © This mut be underftood of Sifters by both Father and Mother; othewife our Author is miftaken in his Affertion : For the Marriage of a Woman to her Brother on the Fa- ther’s Side, or, as the Latins call it, her Brother German, was not only common among the Eaftern Nations (of which Abraham and Sarah is an Infance) but was alfo al- towable by the Laws of Greece, as might be proved by numberlefs Paflages in Hiftory ; to which Herodian, as he was himfelf a Greed, could hardly be a Stranger, It is therefore moft probable, that the Ptolemy here meant was Prolemaus Ceraunus, eldett Son of Prolemeus Lagus, far- named The Saviour, who was one of Alexander’, Generals, and, after his Death, the firft King of Egy. The Story, a5 may be gathered from Theocritus, Strabo, Appian, Fupin, and others, rurs thus : Ptolemy the Saviour had, by his Wife Eurydice, Prolemens Ceraunus, and a Dauvhtet named Arfincé ; and by his other Wife Berenice, Ptolemesis Phila» delphus ; who, though the younger Son, had the Kingdom given him by his Father before the old Man’s Death, in pre- ference to the hereditary Claim of Ceraunus the elder Bro- ther. Arfinci’, Ceraunus's Sifter, was firtt married to Lyf machus, another of Alexander's Generals, King of Thrace and Pontus, by whom the had feveral Children. After the Death of Lyfimachus, Ceraunus (the Ptolemy here mention- ed) married his Widow 3 which Match, Herodian fays, was made in dircé Viclation of the Laws of the Macedons and Greeks ; becaufe Ceraunus was own Brother to 4/08 both by Father and Mother, * The Cafia was a kind of Bonnet, or rather Hat, with broad Brims, worn by the Macedons to fave their Faces from being Sun-burnt, as the Etymon of the Word feems to im- aly. D with8 HERODIAN. Boox f with Ivy, and for a Sceptre carried a Lbyrfus © But he was moft alarmed at the more modern Examples, whofe Memory was ftill frefh in his Mind; the Wickednefs of Nero, who murdered his own Mother, and made himfelf a ridiculous Spectacle to the People; and the Audacity of Domitian, who proceeded even to the laft Ex- tremes of Cruelty. The Ideas of fuch Tyran- nies as thefe diftracted his Mind, and kept him iuctuating between Hopes and Fears. Befides, the neighbouring Germans gave him no {mali Unealinefs; whom he had not yet entirely fub- dued, but only had perfuaded fome of them in- to his Alliance ; others he kept in Awe by the Terror of his Arms; and many had fled, and Jay for the prefent quiet in their Retreat, dread- ing the Prefence of fo great a Monarch. Of thefe he had flrong Sufpicions, that, holding his Son’s Youth in Contempt, they would, after his Deceafe, refume their former Hoftility: For the Barbarians are naturally fond of raifing Dif- turbances upon the moft trifling Occafions. Thus tofled in a tempeftuous Sea of Cares, he called together his Friends, and as many of his Relations as were with him; and his Son being, brought before them, when they were all af- fembled, he raifed himfelf gently on his Bed, and began in this Manner. Speech of |“ Yam not at all furprized to find you thus Marcus. & fenfibly touched at the unhappy Condition in “which you fee me involved; for there is a “ certain Sympathy in human Nature, mov- © The TAyrfus was a Spear wrapt round with Vine and Ivy Leaves; which the Prieftefles of Bacchus carried in Procefion before his Image, in their mad Orgies at his Feitivals called ty the Rumaus, Bacchinalia. . “ingCOMMODUsS, “ing Men to compaffionate the Diftrefies “of their Brethren, efpecially when they are “ Spectators of their Mifery. But I have fill “‘a ftronger Claim to your Affection , for from “a Confcioufnels of my own tender Regard “ for your Wellare I have Jett Reafon to ex- “ pet a fuitable Return of Friendhhip. The “Fime is now come, both for me to experi- “ rience the Honour and Refpeét I have fo long * beftowed on you, not thrown away on the “ Unworthy; and for you to thew, by a grate “ ful Return, that you are not unmindful of “the Favours conterred. Behold my Son, “ whom yourfelves have educated, juft entring “on the Voyage of Youth, and, like a Vefel “in a perilous Sea, needing the Direction of “ fkilful Pilots ; left, for want of Experience, “he be driven from his tight Courfe, and fplit “on the Rocks of Pride and Immorality, “ Let him find in you many Parents, to com- “ penfate the Lofs of one in me. Be ever near “him, and always help him with your whol- “ fom Countels: For neither is an immenfe Mafg “of Wealth fufficient to fupport the Exceffes “of a Tyrant; nor is there any Safety for a. “ Prince in the Multitude of his Guards, un- “ Iefs he alfo rule in the Hearts of his People. “ Thofe Sovereigns are moft likely to enjoy a “ long and happy Reign, who aim not at ex- “ citing Terror by their Cruelty, but at being “ great and amiable in Goodnets. For not the “ Subjects who are Slaves through Neceflity, “ but fuch as are won by Kindnefs, and charm’d “ into Obedience, may be judged loyal with- “out Sufpicion of Fraud or Flattery ; and only “fuch perfevere in their Duty of doing or Da “ fufferingA.D.180. His Death. 10 HERODIAN. Book I. “ fuffering for their King, whatever is required; * nor do they fall away from their Allegiance, “ except they are driven to it by Violence and “Indignities. It is extremely hard, for Men “ invefted with unlimited Power, to moderate “ their Defires, and fet Bounds to their Paffions. “« By repeating to him thefe and the like ufeful *¢ Admonitions, and often reminding him of “what he now hears, you will not only pro- “ cure to yourfelves, and all his other Subjects, “a wife and worthy Sovereign ; but alfo pay “the beft and moft grateful Tribute to my «Memory, which by thefe Means, and thefe “alone, it is in your Power to make immortal.” As he fpake thefe laft Words, a fudden Faintnefs fuppreffed his Voice; and, through Weaknefs and want of Spirits, he funk down again in the Bed. The melancholy Occafion very deeply affected all who were prefent; fome of whom could not contain their Grief, but vented it in loud Lamentations. Nor did he furvive the Relapfe longer than one Night and Day; and then with great Tranquillity breathed his laft; leaving behind him a deep Sorrow for his Lofs among thofe of his Time, and an ever- fafting Memory of his Virtue to Pofterity. When the Report of the Emperor’s Death was fpread, the whole Army, and the common People then prefent, were equally affected with the News. Nor were there any throughout all the Roman Juritdition, who received the me- lancholy Tidings without Tears; but all, as with one Voice, lamented him; fome called him a good Emperor, fome an experienced and valiant General, and others a wife and mode- rateCOMMODUS. oa rate Governor ; nor was one of them miftaken in his Appellation. After a few Days {pent in the Funeral of his Father, his Friends thought proper to prefent the young Prince to the Army, that he might make a Speech to the Soldiers, and diftribute Money amongft them, as was cuftomary for thofe who fucceded to the Empire ; and by li- beral Largeffes * attach them to his Intereft. £ Tho’ Commedus had been made Augufius, and taken in- to Partnerfhip of the Empire by his Father, after the Death of Lucius Verus his Uncle; it was neverthelefs cuftomary to diftribute Moncy among the Soldiers and People, when the Sovereign came to the {cle Command of the Empire. ‘The Largeffes to the People were called Congiaries, and thofe to the Soldiers Doxatives. Dio mentions, as the - ufual Sum of a Congiary, 140 Drachmas, or, as the Ro- mans called them, Dexiers: For tho’ the attic Drachma was anciently lef than the Reman Denarius, yet Budeus ix certainly right in making them the fame, at leat after the twelve Cvfars ; for what the Latin Writers call Denarius, the Geeck Hiftorians, of the Time of our Hiftory, exprefs by Acaxwi. So that the Drachm and Denier are fynonymous. The moft ufual Donative was 3000 Deniers, 7. 2. almoft 944. of our Money, to each Man; whereas the cuftom ary Congiary was but 4/. 75. 6d. to each, But the Sums of both were arbitrary, and varied according to the Fancy of the Emperor. Thus Julius Capitolinus afiures us, that when Marcus and Verus came to the Imperial Dignity, each Soldier received a Donative of 20,000 Seflerces, in our Mo- ney above 156/, And Lampridius fays, Commodus once gave a Congiary to the People, of 725 Deniers to each, about 221.135. 1d. Nor will this be thought incredible, if we confider the great Extent of the Roman Power under the Emperors, what immenfe Revenues they extorted from all their Provinces by their Stewards and Collectors, and the large Sums arifing from the Profcription of their Officers, Nobility, and Gentry ; all whofe Lives and Fortunes were at the defpotic Difpofal of their Emperors; and upon their Conviion, nay, upon the lighteft Sufpicions of Treafon, their Effe@s were often immediately feized and confifcated. D3 Orders12 HERODIAN. Boox I. Orders were therefore given, for them all to al~ femble in the Field appointed ; where Commedus appeared, and having performed the ufual Di- vine Service, he mounted the Tribunal, ereéted for that Purpofe in the midft of the Camp ; and his Father’s Friends, Men of great Wifdom and Eloquence, ftanding round him, he fpake to the Army in Words like thefe : Speech of “* That your Sorrow for this our deplorable Conmodis, © Lofs is not in the leaft inferior to my own, “ but that we all endure an equal Share of the “common Calamity, is a Truth, of which Iam “ firmly perfuaded. For all the Time of my “dear Father's Life, I never behaved myfelf as your Superior. He loved us all with equal * Affection, and was always more fond of call- * ing me his Fellow-Soldier than his Son. The * latter he looked upon only as an Appellation “of Nature; the former he eitecmed a Com- “ munication of Virtue. When I was an In- «fant, he would often take me in his Arms, ** and commit me into your Hands, as a Pledge ‘« of that great Truft he repofed in you. Hence *T have the moft rational Hopes of fharing in “your Affections. From the Elders I may ex- * pect the Tendernefs of Tutors to their Pu- * pils; the Younger I may addre{s by the Title * of my Schoolfellows-in-Arms : For my Fa- ther loved you, all as one, and trained you “up in every kind of Virtue. After him, Pro- ‘“« vidence has given you me for your Sovereign, “not claiming the Dignity by the precarious “ Right of Adoption (as former Emperors) and “receiving the Government as a new: Acqui- * fition. I was born your Prince, and even “frekled in Rovaley ; mx Swadling-bands SwrantCOMMODUS. 13 “< wraptme in Honours above the Rank of private Perfons; the Imperial Purple receivedme from «the Womb; and the Sun at the fame Inftant “ faw me both a Man aad a Sovereign. Reflect “ on thofe Circumftances, and you cannot but « love me, as an Emperor, not given, but born “to you. My Father has foar’d & into Heaven, * and is now an Attendant and Affefior to the * Gods: To us is committed the Care of Men, ‘Cand the Adminiitration of earthly Affairs. “ Thele to direct and confirm is your Work, by extinguifhing the Remains of War with “* your wonted Valour, and extending the Ro- “ ian Empire even to the Bounds of the O- cean. ‘This will procure you laiting Glory, and pay the moft grateful Acknowledgement tothe Memory of our common Father; whom, tho’ abfent, you are to believe a Hearer of what we fay, and an Infpector over all our Aétions: And happy let us efteem ourfelves, in having fuch a Witnefs of our virtuous Deeds. Hitherto the Succefs of your Arms, and Courage, may be referred to his great Wifdom and Experience in War; but what- ever you hall atchieve under my Command, will be attributed to your own Fidelity and Valour: Hence you will fupply the Authority wanting to my Youth, by your “ own Virtue; you will, at the Beginning of “a new Government, keep the Barbarians in “ their Duty ; fupprefs their Contempt of my “weak Age for the prefent; and, from the « “ « “ « “ « « « « « « © « “ 8 This alludes to the Cuftom of letting the Eagle fly from the Top of the Funcral-Pile, at the Deification of the - deceafed Emperors; as largely deferibed by our Author at the Beginning of the Fourth Book, D4 « dreadful14. HERODIAN. Boo I, “ dreadful Remembrance of what they have al- “ready felt, prevent their raifing any future “ Difturbances.” After Conmmedus had ended his Speech, and by the Donation of large Sums of Money made the Army his own, he returned to the Palace. And for fome little Time Matters were well carried on by the Counfels of his Father’s Friends ; who were every Day with him, and continually advifing the beft Meafures of Go- vernment: Nor did they give him any longer Intervals from public Affairs, than what they Judged requifite to preferve the due Tempera- ture of his Body by innocent Recreations. But it was not long ere fome fervile Courtiers in- finuated themfelves into his Prefence, and en- deavoured to poifon the Morals of the young Prince. A Set of Table-Flatterers, who mea- fured Happinefs by Luft and Appetite, were per- petually hinting to him the Delicacies of Rome ; enumerating the charming Sights, the captivating Sounds, with all that rich Profufion of various Plenty; and at the fame Time complaining, that he murdered all the Time he {pent on the Banks of the Danube, in a Soil unfruitful, parch- ed with intolerable Frofts, and eternally buried under Mountains of Snow. « When, fay they, “ will our Royal Matter leave off drinking Wa- “ters dug out of frozen Rivers ; while others “enjoy the Pleafures of warm Fountains and “cool Streams, and the peculiar Bleffings of “ that temperate Air, of which no Part of the “ World but Italy can boat?” With fuch al- Juring Suggeftions, they eafily excited in the Youth a ftrong Defire to taft the Pleafures they {0 extolled. He {ent for his Friends, and told them,COMMODUs. 5 them, he had a great Inclination to fee his na- tive Country : But being afhamed to confefs the true Reafon of this fudden Alteration, he pre- tended he was apprehenfive that fome one of the wealthieft Patricians » might in his Abfence take Poffeffion of the Imperial Palace ; and thence, as from a ftrong Citadel, having col- leted fufficient Forces, might declare his De- fign, and feize upon the Sovereignty. That it was no hard Matter, in fo populous a City, to get a proper Number of chofen young Men to vindicate his Pretenfions. While the Youth couched his Sentiments under thefe fpecious Pretexts, the reft were in- wardly fhock’d at what they heard, and hung down their Heads in Sorrow and Silence : But Pompeianus (who was the oldeft of them all, and related to the Emperor by marrying his eldeft Sifter) made the following Reply. “ It is very natural for us to believe, my Son Speech of “and my Matter, that you long after your na- Pompeia- * tive Country ; fince we ourfelves are touch’d ” “with the like Defire of feeing our Families, “ But as our Duty to our Sovereign, and the ‘* important Service our Country demands of b The Patricians, firi@ly taken, fignified only thofe, who were the Defcendants of the firft Patres, or Senators, created by Romulus. Patres Conferipti, Confeript Fathers, was the common Title of Refpect, with which each Mem- ber, when he made a Speech, addrefled the whole Houtfe. The Term at firlt was given to fuch as from the lower Orders of the Citizens were enrolled, or canfcribed, among the Senators to fill up their Number; which in the firft Age of the Commonwealth was 300, but afterwards their Number became vague and arbitrary. For Cicero (, ‘poft redit.) mentions 510. Julius Cafar {well’d them to above F000; but duguffus reduced them to the formes Number. “us16 HERODIAN. Boox f. “us in thefe Parts, juftly claim the firft Place “in our Withes, to thefé we poftpone all pri- “+ vate Confiderations. You will hereafter be “ bleft, the greateft Part of your Life, with a “ fecure Enjoyment of whatever is defirable at “¢ Home: And in the mean time, wherever the “ Emperor is, there is Rome. But to leave a ¢¢ War unfinilhed, is a Step as dangerous as dif- “ honourable; by which we fhall give new Spi- “ sits to the Barbarians; who will immediately “conclude, we are not invited Home by the * Love of cur Country, but driven hence by “ the Fear of our Enemies, On the contrary, “ how glorious will be your Return, when, hav- “ing conquered all the Nations of the North, and bounded your Empire with the Ocean, * you fhall enter your City in Triumph, while ** fetter’d Captives fhall follow your Chariot, ‘and barbarous Kings and Deputies grace the “ Proceffion ! ’T'was thus the Romans of former “* Ages made themfelves Great and I!luftrious. «< You have no Reafon to fear, that while you are “abfent, any one at Home will create Difturb- “ances: For you have with you the nobleft of “the Senators; the whole Military Power is * prefent, and ever ready to defend the Rights “ of their Emperor; the Treafuries of the royal “ Revenues are here alfo; and the dear Memory “of your departed Father cannot fail of con- “ firming to you the inviolate Faith and good ** Affection of all, who under you fill any Poft “of Honour or Authority.” : Pompeianus, by this Speech, endeavoured to encourage the Youth to the Purfuit of better Meafures ; and it was forcible enough to put a prefent Stop to his Inclinations. For rie 5,COMMODUsS. 17 dus, aw’d at the old Man’s Words, and unable to make any reafonable Reply, difmiffed the Council, with telling them, he would reflect on what had been faid, and take a longer Time to confider of it. But his Minifters and Syco- phants eternally hanging upon him, he no more communicated his Defigns to his Friends 3 but having difpatched Letters, and diftributed the Government on the Banks of the Denube to whom he thought proper, and commanded them to guard againft the Inroads of the Barbarians, he gave the neceflary Orders to decamp. His Officers faithfully difcharged their Duty, and ina fhort Time reduced by Arms the greateft Part of the Barbarians to his Subjection; and by valuable Confiderations eafily brought over others to his Alliance. For the Barbarians, be- ing by Nature exceffively fond of Money, and Defpifers of Dangers, either maintain themfelves by Incurfions and Rapines, or comply with the firft Overtures for a venal Peace, provided the Purchafers bid up to the Price of it. Which Commodus knowing, and willing to buy Eafe at any Rate, as he did not want Money, refufed nothing they demanded. When the Report of his intended Departure Commadus came abroad, there was a great Hurry and Con- returns to fufion throughout all the Camp. Every one was Rone. willing to go with him, to be freed from the Trouble of a tedious War, and enjoy the De- lights and Diverfions of Rome. But when Mef- fengers arrived at the City, proclaiming the Emperor’s Return, the Roman People were over- Joyed at the News, and conceived great Hopes of the Good they were to reap from their young Sovereign’s Refidence among them; for they at : once18 HERODIAN, Boox L once concluded, the Son inherited the Father’s Virtues. Cermodus performed his Journey with a juvenile Hafte; he ran through the intermedi- ate Cities, and every where met with the Recep- tion of aKing, all the People celebrating his Ap- pearance with Mirth and Fi eftivity, and behold- ing him with Eyes which feemed to exprefs their Loyalty and good Affeétions. When he came within a few Miles of Rome, the whole Senate, and all the Inhabitants of the City, without any regard to Order or Quality, each ftriving to be foremoft, ran out to meet him, carrying Laurels, and all kinds of Flowers the Seafon afforded every one going as far as he was able, pleafed with the Thoughts of feeing and wel- coming Home their young illuftrious Emperor. For they fincerely longed to fee him, as he was a Prince born and bred amongft them ; and defcended in the third Degree from a Fa- mily allied to the Throne and Senate. By his Father’s Side, he {prang from the moft illuftri- ous of the Senatorian Order. His Mother, Fauftina, the late Emprefs, was the Daughter of Antoninus Pius, and Grand-daughter to 4- drian by the Woman’s Side, and referred her Lineage up to Trajan her Great-grandfather. Thus noble was Connodus by Extraction. And, befides the fprightly Bloom of his Youth, his His Beau- Form was truly amiable. In his Body appear’d y- a juft Symmetry of Parts; in his Face was vi- fible the Majefty of Manhood, attempered with the Softnefs of Beauty; his Eyes were vivid and fparkling; his Hair naturally curled, and of fo bright a Yellow, that, whenever he walk’d in the Sun, it glittered like Fire, emitting Sparks of Light fo quick, that fome conjectured, as he went,COMMODUS. 19 went, his Head was fprinkled with the Filings of Gold‘; others, of a more fuperftitious Caft, accounted for it by a fupernatural Power; fome heavenly Luftre, they faid, came with him in- to the World, and fettling on his Head, from thence diffufed its Rays of Divinity. Add to all this, the bloomy Down on his Cheeks, re- fembling the Softnefs of Beds of Flowers. ‘I'hus charmed at the Sight of fo beautiful a Sovereign, the Romans received him with all poffible De- monftrations of Joy, decking his Pafs with Garlands, and ftrewing the Ground with Flow- ers. When he rode into the City, and had vifited firft the Temple of Jupiter, and after- wards thofe of the other Deities in Order, and returned the Senate and Soldiers left at Home his Thanks for their Loyalty and faithful Ser- vices, he retired to the Imperial Palace. For a few Years he fhewed great Refpect for his Father’s Friends, and did every thing as their Counfels direéted ; but when he came to take the Dire&tion of Affairs into his own Hands, he made Perennius, an Italian, Prefect of his Camps *; a Perfon of a military Charaéter, i Yellow Hair was eftcemed fo beautiful among the Ro- mans, that their Beaux ufed to powder their Hair with Gold-duft. This Capitolinus aflerts of the Emperor Verzs. Trebellius mentions the fame Cultom in the Life of Gal/i- enuss and Lampridius exprefsly affirms, that Commodus uled the fame Art. * As the Mention of the Roman Officers very frequently occurs in Hiftory, a thort Account of their feveral Ranks and Titles may not be thought improper. The Officers of the Army were Decuricns, Centurions, Tribunes, Pre- feéts, Legates, and Prectors. The Decurions were Officers of Horfe, fo called from their having the Command of a Decury, or ten Men, the third20 HERODIAN. Boox I, and therefore judged Proper to prefide over the Army. This Miniter, practifing on the Weak- nefs of the young Monarch, gave him all pof- fible Leifure to corrupt his Manners with Ef. third part of a Troop. The Number of Troops in a Le- gion was generally ten, Centurions fometimes commanded a Century, which com- monly confifted of one hundred Foot. But the Term Was not confined to the Infantry; for we read of Centu- ties of Horfe in Cicero, Philip. 4. Livy, lib.i, and other Authors. Nor were the Centurions always Captains of Hundreds, as the Word implies: On the contrary, an Ordo or Rank, which was half a Maniple, and contained but fixty Men, was often headed by Centurions. ‘The princi- pal Centurion of the Legion was called Primipilus (from the Pilum, a Weapon ufed by his Company) and Primus Centurio, Firft Centurion, or Dudor Ordinis primi, Leader of the firft Rank, He had the Charge of the Eagle, or Chief Standard: But that he was ftyled Prefed of the Le- gion, as fome Antiquarians affert, feems to be a Miftake, as we fhall prefently thew. The Tribuncs of Soldiers were at firft but three, after- wards fix, and then ten, ina Legion. They were anciently chofen, partly by the Confulls, partly by ‘the Suffrages of the People. Their Office empowered them to decide Con- troverfies by Courts Martial ; to fee the Camps well forti- fied, and the Watch difpofed in due Order ; to give the Watch-word ; to cathire Cohorts, when neceflary; to take care the Army was well viGualled 3 and to keep the Sol- diers obedient to Command. Their Commiffion was but for a certain Time: Some Modems conjecture, from a Paflage in Fuvenal, Sat vil. % 89. (which however is un- certain) that it was but fix Months. After which they never could be a Duéfor ordinum, or Centurion, but were ufually promoted to a Prefecture; which is the next Office to be explained. The Ronan Legion confifted of ten Cohorts ; but the Number of Men that com pofed a Cohort was very various, Plutarch (in Romuls) aflerts, the Legion at firt had but 3000 Foot and 300 Horfe, Livy mentions Legions from 4000 to 6000 Foot, and from 200 to 400 Hore, Feftus makes a Legicn fometimes confit of 6200 Men. Polsbius, lib. i. fays, the Complemerit of a Legion in the frit Punic 5 War